2008 News Archive
The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) is holding its 100th Anniversary annual meeting on Thursday, November 20, at the Indian Summer Golf & Country Club in Olympia. The meeting will reflect on the challenges overcome during the last Century, and highlight a prosperous path forward for the timber industry in Washington State.
The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) was incorporated on April 6, 1908, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008. For its first 50 years the association was known as the Washington Forest Fire Association (WFFA). In 1958 the WFFA reincorporated and became the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA). This essay discusses the firefighting technology used by the association during its first 70 years and explains how improvements in technology dramatically reduced damage caused by wildfires. During the 1970s, the WFPA evolved from primarily a firefighting organization into more of a political organization, and by the late 1970s the change was so complete that the WFPA was no longer as involved with advances to firefighting technology as it had been in the past.
The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) was established in 1908, and for its first 50 years was known as the Washington Forest Fire Association (WFFA). The WFFA grew quickly in its early years, particularly in 1917, the year of the enactment of Washington state’s Forest Patrol Law. The WFFA was originally a fire-prevention and fire-fighting organization, and fire was considered the enemy. But not long after the WFFA reincorporated as the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) in 1958, that began to change.
The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) was established on April 6, 1908, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008. For its first 50 years the Association was known as the Washington Forest Fire Association (WFFA). In 1958, the WFFA reincorporated and became the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA). This essay discusses policy positions and actions taken by the association during its first 100 years, and tracks its development from a fire protection organization into a political organization that deals legislatively and administratively with environmental and economic issues affecting its members.
The U.S. Green Building Council proposes changes in how the LEED Green Building Rating System™ awards points for the use of certified wood. The focus of the proposed LEED credit language changes is on transparency, setting forth a clear set of metrics that any forest certification system must meet in order to be recognized within LEED. Currently, only wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council are eligible for LEED points.
Leaders from timber, tribal and conservation communities have a dialogue about the pressures on our private forest land base from increasing population and the importance of working together to maintain working forests on our landscape.
Brian Saul, a business education teacher at Ocosta Jr./Sr. High School in Westport, is learning about what happens out in the woods. He is one of 7 teachers in Western Washington participating in a summer program which matches up teachers with tree farmers. Saul will bring this hands-on experience back to the classroom this fall to encourage students to better understand the forests around them.
In December 2007 a 500-year flood devastated communities in Lewis County. The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians stepped up and donated the first of six manufactured homes to families who lost everything. Now the giving has come full circle – a cedar log that had washed up onto farmer Dave White’s field was donated to the tribe, and carved by chainsaw artist Dave Tremko, as a tribute to the tribe’s generosity.
On July 23, 2008, the Western Climate Initiative released the Draft Design of the Regional Cap-and-Trade Program. The recommendations pertaining to forestry are quite good, however, they are not finalized and there are still some changes that should be made. Public comment closes August 13, 2008, so please follow the link to view the summary of the recommendations and how you can comment.
A broad range of forestry stakeholders, including industry and environmental groups in both the U.S. and Canada, have come together to help address climate change.
On July 24, 2008, The Seattle Times published an opinion-editorial by WFPA Executive Director, Mark Doumit. It is titled, “Understanding the value of well-managed forests”.
After months of negotiations, the State of Washington, timber industry and Audubon Society reach agreement on developing science based incentives for private forestland owner contribution to maintaining populations of Northern Spotted Owls.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2008, the Washington State Biodiversity Council named Josh Weiss the vice-chair of the Biodiversity Council. Weiss represents private landowners and is from the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA). At WFPA, Weiss is the Director of Environmental Policy.
At the Association of Washington Business’s spring board meeting on May 21, 2008, the Washington Forest Protection Association was presented with a community service award for their work relating to the flood relief efforts in southwest Washington after the December 2007 storm event.
The Hama Hama Tree Farm, managed by David Robbins and his family, has been named the 2008 Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year, recognizing his exceptional commitment to enhance his forest land. The award was announced on April 25, 2008, in Mt. Vernon, Washington, at the Annual Meeting of the Washington Farm Forestry Association, which is a co-sponsor of the Washington Tree Farm Program.
Jill Reynolds was hired as WFPA’s new Executive Program Assistant. She started April 4, 2008. She comes to WFPA with more than 30 years of experience from working with the State of Washington. Reynolds worked as Executive Assistant to the director of Washington’s Lottery, along with other positions in state agencies such as Department of Social and Health Services, Fish & Wildlife, and Community Trade and Economic Development to name a few.
“I really enjoyed working in natural resources and I’m excited about this opportunity here at WFPA to get back in it,” Reynolds said.
She will provide services ranging from performing general office support to providing high-level administrative expertise and assistance to WFPA Program Directors. Responsibilities include scheduling, correspondence, meeting planning and management, office and telephone reception, research and information searches and office support.
On March 23, 2008, The Longview Daily News published an opinion-editorial by WFPA Executive Director, Mark Doumit. It is titled, ‘It’s Time for Fact-Finding, Not Finger Pointing’ and is in regards to the December 2007 southwest Washington storm events.
Governor Chris Gregoire’s office presented WFPA with a proclamation declaring March 11, 2008, “Washington Forest Protection Association’s 100th Anniversary Celebration” Day.
On February 27, a family displaced by the devastating 500-year storm of Dec. 2007 received a donated triple-wide manufactured home from Port Blakely Companies through the Homeward Bound Coalition in Meskill, WA. The Homeward Bound Coalition was formed to replace homes for families displaced by the Lewis County flood. Lead partners include private forest landowners of the Washington Forest Protection Association, Stillaguamish tribe, Seattle’s Center for Spiritual Living and the Lewis County Fire District #16.
In a special to the Seattle Times, WFPA Executive Director, Mark Doumit, writes an opinion-editorial titled, ‘Flood victims interested in helping, being helped — not finding a scapegoat’. This piece talks about the devastating flood events in southwest Washington in December 2007.
Here are some facts and information in regards to the December 1-4, 2007 storm events that took place in southwest Washington.
TVW presents Washington Business in Focus, a series of six episodes, each approximately ten minutes in length, designed to highlight how specific types of business fits into Washington State’s larger economic picture. Washington Business in Focus is produced with the support of the Association of Washington Business. The Forest Products segment highlights the State’s second largest manufacturing industry and how it’s a high-tech global concern. Find out how those changes affect everyone from Weyerhaeuser to small private forest owners.
In December, WFPA gave an overview of Governor Gregoire’s climate change process and highlighted the positive outcomes from the Forestry Technical Work Group High Priority Policy Options.
The Small Forest Landowner Office, within the Washington Department of Natural Resources, has a new program known as the Long-Term Forest Practices Application. This program allows small forest landowners to apply for a long-term application that is valid for up to 15 years. This new application is expected to ease the paperwork burden and allow for more flexibility. There are three meetings for forestry consultants regarding the long-term forest practices application and they are on January 8 in Everett, January 9 in Spokane, and January 10 in Chehalis.