Working forests need balanced management

Voters should keep in mind the importance of temperance and balance with the next elected lands commissioner. I would like to remind our community of the importance of working forests and how important striking a balance between the economy and environment is when it comes to forest management.

I work as a forester for Professional Forestry Services, Inc., which manages forestland for private timber landowners. These landowners provide sustainable and environmentally sensitive forest management, certified in many cases by American Tree Farm.

In addition to providing lumber, paper and other products, working forests provide much needed jobs and tax dollars especially for our rural counties.

In the six counties where our company operates (Thurston is one), timber supports an estimated 30,000 jobs and generates tax dollars to the local communities. In Thurston County alone, forestry related taxes and fees were in excess of $5 million in recent years.

After harvesting, our owners replant all units the following year in order to continually produce lumber and wood products that are lower-carbon than other building materials for housing construction.

As the economic driver in rural communities, private forest management not only protects the environment but also provides economic opportunity for many rural families.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Working forests need balanced management."