Learn more about the programs to be discussed at the Of Men and Murrelets events:
Trust Land Transfer
The legislatively funded Trust Land Transfer Program provides an opportunity to retain identified special trust lands in public ownership while maintaining and improving economic return to trust beneficiaries. The program is designed to accomplish these important objectives for Common School Trust lands. Designated properties are appraised for current market value. DNR uses the land value of the property to acquire replacement property better suited to generating future revenue for common schools. The value of timber on the lands is deposited into the Common School Construction Account to provide immediate revenue for K-12 public schools. These timbered properties are transferred to another public agency that will manage and protect it for public use and enjoyment. These timbered properties are transferred to another public agency that will manage and protect it for endangered species and public enjoyment.
State Forest Replacement Program
The State Forest Replacement Program was crafted in 2009 by the Washington state legislature to aid small, economically stressed rural Washington counties. These counties, which typically receive revenue from timber sales on DNR-managed forestland, lose that revenue stream when the forestland is set aside from timber harvesting, and therefore lose the ability to fund some local services. Under the program, the state legislature sets aside funding in the biennial budget for DNR to purchase private timberland for long-term harvesting and for the counties to receive immediate financial relief, which is critical in counties which currently struggle to provide essential services for their residents. In exchange, DNR-managed forestland which contains known marbled murrelet or northern spotted owl nesting sites is set aside into permanent conservation status, at no cost to DNR’s beneficiaries. Since its inception in 2009, the program has yet to be fully funded in any legislative biennium. DNR had originally planned for the program to be funded for 5 biennium at $6 million per biennium, which would have set aside $10 million each for Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania counties, and the endangered species that live there, over the decade if fully funded.