The court decision to protect the timber sale known as Stilly Revisited is in. Superior Court Judge Langbehn denied Legacy Forest Defense Coalition (LFDC) and North Cascades Conservation Council’s appeal to stop the clearcut of this legacy forest. For those of you who have fought with us to save this forest, we grieve with you the loss of this living system that supports complex life.
Happily, the court also
denied DNR’s request for collateral estoppel, a doctrine in law that prevents a party from relitigating an issue of fact. The judge said this issue is not identical to LFDC’s other court cases.
Kate asked LFDC ED Stephen Kropp if he thinks these cases help educate the judiciary in WA or just harden the courts against us. He said it depends. If the court overrules the decision in Grays Harbor County, then it sets a precedent that other superior courts are required to follow.
LFDC’s goal is to convince the Court of Appeals that the continued logging of these forests in the absence of any kind of management plan constitutes arbitrary and capricious behavior. If we can get the court to agree with us on that point, then it will force DNR to finally prepare regional forest land management plans, each of which will require an environmental impact statement and opportunities for public comment.
Grants. So, legacy forests continue to fall in Snohomish County. What can we do about it? Speak up, of course! Most people who live in our county have no idea how DNR is managing our forests on land that belongs to all of us. LWVSC is working to educate our neighbors. We need help writing grants! Let Kate know if you’re available – we have lists.
We shot our first video to send out to folks in our county on social media to explain the full benefits that legacy forests provide if left standing. UW student and activist Victoria Tchervenski spent the day with Kate in the legacy forest Tuckered Out to deliver messaging. The Center for Responsible Forestry Communications Director Daniel Harm directed and shot the video in several parts of the forest. LFDC field biologist Kyle Krakow led us to several beautiful locations for the shoot. Now we need the money to push the messaging.
LWVSC met again with our DNR NW Planning Unit foresters along with CM Dunn and LFDC folks. Protection of these legacy forests on state lands is an urgent matter. We had a good conversation, but are a long way from agreeing on deferring harvest of legacy forests. It can be done while still satisfying the DNR’s near-term commitments to generate revenue for designated beneficiaries. We will have another meeting next month in hopes of finding common ground.
LWVSC partnered with the Sierra Club Sno-Isle Group in January to present a program to Friends of Hooven Forest - a group working hard to preserve 200 acres of DNR forests near their neighborhood. We covered national, state, and county challenges around forest management. DNR Advisor on external affairs, Emma Mudd, was in the audience. Kate was grateful to have a chance to speak with her afterward to elaborate on our concerns. Sierra Club followed up with connections to information and action for the public. You may also be interested in
Forests Fires and Falsehoods for further reading. “The timber industry continues to promote the illusion that clearcutting can help fight climate change.”
LWVSC co-hosted PNW Forest Climate Alliance Organizer Alex Budd in January for a
program on the assault on US forests by the federal administration. He packed an hour with history of the timber conflicts leading to the NW Forest Plan and the Roadless Rule and now to attacks on environmental law. The Sierra Club is considering bringing Alex back for a full webinar for the public.
Mother of the Mother Tree Suzanne Simard and Jessica Hernandez are coming on March 30th at 7:00 P.M. to Third Place Books. Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard—author of the bestselling book
Finding the Mother Tree, and a pioneering researcher on tree connectivity and communication is coming for a conversation about her new book,
When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World. Suzanne will be joined in conversation by indigenous scientist and climate justice leader Jessica Hernandez, author of
Fresh Banana Leaves and Growing Papaya Trees. Tickets are required.