A New Direction for Washington’s Most Critical Forests

Since 1957, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has been a world leader in thoughtful, sustainable forest management. We have done that by constantly evolving and innovating how we manage Washington’s forests.

But our world is changing, and how we steward our forests must change, too. Under Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove, DNR is leading the way to a new path for our forests.

In August 2025, Commissioner Upthegrove signed a Commissioner’s Order to identify 77,000 acres of structurally complex and older forests across Western Washington to be managed in ways other than traditional industrial logging (variable retention harvesting).

A bold step forward for forest conservation. Leveraging DNR’s globally-recognized leadership in sustainable land management, we will pursue strategies other than traditional industrial harvests on these 77,000 plus acres of structurally complex and older forests. This will ensure these carbon-dense, habitat-rich forests are available for future generations. These innovative strategies will generate new revenue for the agency and beneficiaries, showing that there are many ways that working forests can support local communities. Under this policy, the will agency continue to meet our responsibilities to schools and local governments and diversify the way we generate revenue from these lands.

Strategies will include selling carbon credits and other valuable ecosystem services, acquiring replacement timber lands, and seeking increased value from timber sales by promoting mass timber markets and maximizing return on certified forest products. We will also review how we structure and configure sales. Innovative silviculture practices to improve habitat, forest health, and accelerate stand stage development may also provide revenue opportunities.

Our climate, our habitats, our communities can’t wait for us to act, and neither can future generations. These forests are workhorses for capturing climate pollution and are critical for healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. Ensuring they become the old growth of tomorrow while developing and implementing innovative stewardship practices across these lands is the next step in the agency’s world-leading sustainable forest management practices. Guided by DNR’s ecological expertise, we will put Washington State on a path to achieve desirable habitat outcomes faster while expanding and diversifying the sources of revenue for beneficiaries such as schools, fire districts, and local governments.

About the Updates to the Map;

Last summer, DNR released a map identifying potential structurally complex forests (SCF) on state lands in Western Washington that could be managed using methods besides variable retention harvesting. After the initial release, we realized the map contained some errors. This is to be expected when working with so many data sets across such a large landscape. Many outside parties also suggested improvements. We took their input seriously and immediately began to review the data and update the map.

This new version of the map below has been corrected and updated. The map now:

• Accounts for lands previously harvested or transferred to other partners
• Ensures that any included parcels under 2.5 acres connect with other lands managed for ecological or riparian value so that there are no “small islands” of isolated parcels
• Removes some likely potential old growth forests that would already be protected from the 77,000 acres
• Includes parcels containing structurally complex forests that had been considered for harvest in sales deferred by the Commissioner: South Paw in King County; Spruce Wayne in Pacific County; Starwagon and Sparrowhawk in Thurston County; and Seven and Seven in Grays Harbor County
• Adds 7,500 supplemental acres that are expected to include some SCF, along with non-SCF that were eligible for variable retention harvest but can be managed differently.  These are acres previously considered for ecosystem management projects and it makes sense to include them (including non-SCF parcels).  We are still on target to meet our SCF goals, with total identified acreage of almost 80,000 acres

Click for a full-page view of the 77k Acres of Forest Land Viewer

The viewer reflects the data available at the time of analysis and contains inherent uncertainties due to data resolution, accuracy, and temporal differences with other datasets. This information is for illustration purposes and should not be used to make management or policy decisions. The viewer will be updated as data is refined and updated.

Locating the 77,000+ Acres of Forest Land Viewer

Using the best available methodology, a team of DNR foresters, data scientists, and forest ecologists developed a tool to classify structurally complex forests (SCF) across DNR’s lands in Western Washington: the Structurally Complex Forest (SCF) Detector. The Detector uses DNR’s existing remote-sense data along with field visits to find these forests on DNR lands.

Using this tool, DNR identified more than 72,000 acres of potential SCF in areas managed for timber value. Additionally, the agency added in 7,500 supplemental acres of potential SFC not detected by the model that were eligible for variable retention harvest to be managed differently. In total, this identifies 79,876 acres (“77,000+”) of potential SCF that can be managed for ecological health, habitat connectivity, and diversity of stand types across the landscape instead of traditional industrial logging. These acres will still provide revenue, just in ways besides variable retention harvesting (such as ecosystem services revenue). Included within this is the conservation of almost 10,000 acres of potential older forests.

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What is the Impact?

Managing these 77,000 plus acres using methods beyond traditional industrial harvesting will enable us to nurture and steward these forests in more innovative, diverse ways, so that we can do more for our climate, for our habitat, and for the communities we serve.

We will implement new ways to manage these forests and diversify the revenue these public lands have provided since statehood.

This policy also ensures that DNR will meet its currently planned future harvest plans, providing certainty so that our foresters, beneficiaries, and the timber industry can responsibly plan for the future.

What are the Next Steps?

Many of our lands are well-suited for ecosystem services, and Commissioner Upthegrove is eager to have DNR to enter into the carbon market and invest in other ecosystem services on these more than 77,000 acres.

Even as we are working with the Legislature for additional authority and resources to help us with our work, the agency continues to plan ahead, exploring the possibilities of forest carbon credits, avoided wildfire emission credits, and promoting better practices. We’ll be ready to hit the ground running and enter these markets.

Beyond ecosystem services, DNR will also participate in ongoing efforts to expand the mass timber market, supporting local, state, and federal funding efforts to scale infrastructure and mills for engineered wood products. Commissioner Upthegrove is encouraging the agency to prioritize the harvest of higher value wood products like Maturation I Douglas Fir and Hemlocks that are suitable for poles, and hardwoods where riparian habitat can be improved while ensuring that DNR is maximizing the value received for SFI and FSC certified products.

When it makes sense, the Commissioner will also seek funding to acquire working forests at risk of conversion to keep them as forests and expand the state’s portfolio of lands that can enter ecosystem services markets and help supply engineered wood products.

While we pursue innovative methods and diversify our portfolio, DNR will continue to meet its responsibilities to our schools, counties, and communities that rely on the revenue generated from our lands.

This plan sets us on a different path, helping us conserve our forests, support our communities, and hit our habitat goals faster.

Access our 77k Acres of Forest Land Data Cube

For eight months in 2025, DNR’s world-leading team of foresters and forest scientists developed and implemented a new tool to inventory state-owned forests and identify structurally complex forests (SCF). These forests, regenerated naturally across western Washington, are vital to sequestering carbon, supporting critical habitat, ensuring healthy ecosystem functions, and providing the biodiversity that is essential to the health of our state. DNR scientists combined cutting-edge technology with old-fashioned field viewings to identify these forests and develop tools to allow anyone to see where these forests are, and how they are being managed.

View the Data Cube and see for yourself.

Download ArcGIS Pro Map Package (requires ArcGIS Pro)