The season for
forest bathing is long in Washington. Many of us travel to the Central Cascades weekly to sit and walk and hike in our forests. Many are lucky enough to wander in local urban forests and parks nearby. We breathe if the fires are not close. We heal and find balance.
Rather than living on the land, we need to live in nature. In relationship. The supremacy of an extractive culture has knocked us out of relationship with Earth. All living things are in danger, but we can find a way back if we are willing. The forests of the Pacific Northwest can teach us reciprocity if we listen.
One way is to let the few mature forests remaining in Snohomish County stand. Ask our county to help! Take
ACTION here. Statewide there are about 77,000 acres of these carbon-dense, structurally complex mature forests left on public land, less than 5% of the timber-producing land available to the Department of Natural Resources. If we leave them standing, we will avoid emitting over 31 million metric tons of CO2. We will allow these old trees to continue absorbing carbon for decades or centuries.
These big trees also store carbon. A 2023 study of 11 unprotected national forests says mature forests accumulate massive amounts of carbon. Of the carbon in the study, 73% is found in larger trees. And the
amount of the carbon in unprotected 6% of federal forest land equals one-quarter of annual emissions. Our forests have a global impact.
Our League is asking the Snohomish County Council to seek protection of all the mature forests in our county. It’s not too late to sign the
call to action for mature forests in Snohomish County! Tell our county we need to protect them!
Learn more at the LWV of Washington discussion: Forests—Climate Solutions! Wednesday September 13, 2023 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
Register!
Join us to talk about it. Look on the LWVSC calendar for our next one-hour meeting in late September via Zoom. Or contact Kate Lunceford at kurlykate888@gmail.com.
Tree Campaign in the news:
Activists race to document mature forests in hopes of preserving them as carbon sinks
To speak for trees, Snohomish County activists arm themselves with data