The “Carrot” and “Cabbage Patch” timber sales within Capitol Forest in Thurston County, WA are under threat of being auctioned off to the highest bidder by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for clearcut logging. These forests are vital for wildlife habitat, water quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity. We must act now to protect them.

DNR is accepting public comment for these sales through September 27th. Take 1 minute to send a pre-written email to DNR and Thurston Board of County Commissioners urging them to include "Carrot" and "Cabbage Patch" in a new conservation program.

The “Carrot” timber sale encompasses 100 acres of pristine mature forest with numerous Douglas firs and cedars over four feet in diameter. This unique ecosystem, featuring a complex canopy and healthy forest floor, plays a vital role in wildlife habitat, water quality, and climate resilience. Of particular concern is Unit 1, characterized by wet and steep terrain with slopes; logging here could lead to erosion impacting nearby Cedar Creek.

The "Cabbage Patch" timber sale, including Units 4 and 5 in Thurston County, stands at a critical juncture. These units are surrounded by recent clearcuts, leaving them as some of the last vestiges of intact mature forest in the immediate area. Unit 5 houses the beloved "Mr. Bones" mountain bike trail. While DNR’s data estimates that these trees are between 80 and 90 years old, it's quite possible that many are older, especially the remarkable Douglas fir and Sitka Spruce up to four feet in diameter.