DNR Launches Carbon Offset Project To Protect Washington Forests

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced what it calls a "historic carbon project" aiming to offset millions of metric tons of emissions, and protect around 10,000 acres of Western Washington’s most valuable forest lands.

The program will play out in two phases. In the first, approved Wednesday by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, 3,750 acres of forest have now become protected lands. Those forests will then be leased for renewable energy or agricultural use, with the caveat that the leaseholders have to use them to store carbon and generate revenue for the state through carbon markets. Organizers estimate that the new revenue source will generate tens of millions of dollars for Washington schools and local services.

The now-protected lands have a "high ecological value", the DNR said, and had been slated for logging. By protecting them through the new carbon offset program, organizers say they will instead generate 900,000 carbon offsets credits over 10 years— the equivalent of offsetting over 2 billion miles driven by gas-powered cars.

It is also the first time a state agency has used the carbon market to protect forest lands from being harvested.

“This represents the next generation of carbon projects – a truly transformative approach to preserving our most ecologically valuable forests and supporting our communities,” said Commissioner Franz. “The climate crisis is at our doorstep, and now is the time for bold measures to reduce carbon, protect ecologically significant forests, and provide needed revenue for public schools, libraries, and hospitals. This project is a true win-win for our environment and our communities, and I am thrilled to make Washington state a leader in carbon market opportunities and create a model that can be used on public lands throughout the country.”

The 3,750 acres of land protected in the first phase are spread across Whatcom, Thurston, King, and Grays Harbor counties. 2,500 acres of that land had been set to be logged, but were chosen for protection because they were biodiverse, critical to larger ecosystems, or contained rare, threatened, or endangered ecosystems and habitats.

"This initiative is so exciting; this protects the forests natural habitat and ecosystem; protects historical and traditional Indigenous lands. And, takes significant steps to sequester carbon, in our fight against global warming,” said Squaxin Island Tribal Council Chairman Kristopher Peters. “This initiative restores our environment and will play a large role in our holistic approach towards saving our sacred salmon and our beloved Salish sea."

The second phase of the program, which will protect the remaining 6,250 acres of forest land, will be announced sometime next year.

“Expanding and protecting our forests in Washington is the right thing to do. We are seeing our salmon runs disappear and with them our treaty rights and our culture,” said Willie Frank III, Chairman of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. “We need to protect the river systems from the mountains to the sea, and our forests are a key part of these living systems. Our salmon and our forests are forever connected. As one goes, so does the other. This is a big step toward protecting and restoring our forestlands and therefore our salmon and our tribes.”

The DNR currently manages and protects about 840,000 acres of land across the state, including more than 50 percent of the land west of the Cascades.