Washington State’s forests are legendary. More than half of Washington is forestland — millions of acres providing wildlife habitat, keeping vital rivers and streams clean, removing carbon from the atmosphere, supplying timber resources and supporting thousands of jobs.

Half of the state’s forestland is working forest, so keeping that land working is vital for preserving both the environmental benefits and the economic vitality that Washington’s forests deliver.

That’s why The Conservation Fund acted fast when the Deep River Woods property came on the market. Stretching over 20,000 acres of Douglas fir, western hemlock and red alder forest in southwestern Washington State, Deep River Woods is critical for wildlife and environmental health. It is also a vital part of the forestry economy of one of the premier wood products hubs in the Pacific Northwest.

TCF worked in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to secure the property in 2023, protecting it from fragmentation or development.

Providing Economic Support

TCF is actively managing about half of Deep River Woods through its Working Forests program and will transfer it over time to the DNR for long-term ownership under an option agreement. As protected forestland, Deep River Woods will continue to provide forestry jobs as well as economic support and revenue for local communities. State-owned land in the area can account for over one-third of a county’s annual operating budget for public services, especially schools.

At the same time, the forest also supports critical habitat for fish, birds and a range of threatened or endangered species. Protecting the forest also delivers climate benefits, helping the state deliver on its Climate Commitment Act, which implemented a cap-and-invest program to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions.

Deep River Woods, which The Land Report magazine named its 2023 Timberland Deal of the Year, shows why TCF’s dual mandate of advancing nature and economic opportunity is so important and how the two goals are not only compatible but interdependent.

Learn More

• News: “2023 Timberland Deal of the Year: Deep River Woods“
• News: “The Conservation Fund, Washington State Partner For Climate Solutions, Sustainable Economies With Coastal Forest Purchase“