These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project
Four parcels in Whatcom County are included in the state’s proposal for phase two of a plan to lease forest land for carbon offsets rather than logging.
However, the Department of Natural Resources proposal includes 11,726 acres statewide, and needs to be narrowed down to 7,500 acres. To do so, DNR is asking for community input on which forests deserve protection.
The four parcels in Whatcom total 664 operable acres of forest. They are: Upper Rutsatz and Van Zandt Dike (near Deming), Maple Creek (near Maple Falls) and Vedder (west of Sumas).
“This project is a truly transformative approach to preserving our most ecologically valuable forests,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz in a news release “I am thrilled to make Washington state a leader in carbon market opportunities through partnership and collaboration. By working together, we have the opportunity to build a first-of-its-kind model to support communities, protect ecologically significant forests, and provide needed revenue for public schools, libraries, and hospitals.”
The carbon project is a way for DNR to protect forests while maintaining school construction funding. Instead of leasing forests for logging, it will lease the lands through a third party that will sell carbon credits to organizations as carbon offsets.
A carbon offset is a way for an organization to earn carbon credits, and work to fight climate change without changing its practices.
The carbon project has already protected four parcels of forest in Whatcom during phase one in April. Those areas include Anderson Creek, Jones Creek, Olsen Creek and Unit 2 of the Bessie timber sale.
A public webinar will offer more information at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. The DNR is also taking feedback by online survey that will close Nov. 18.
