Parks, Open Spaces, Wild Places News

Washington is home to several of the nation’s most beautiful and important national forests.  These forests provides the state’s residents with some of the highest quality recreation areas and our state’s economy with an important source of revenue.  Unfortunately, logging in Washington’s national forests jeopardizes $2.7 billion per year in Washington business from transportation, lodging, equipment, and licenses for activities such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching, according to a new report released today by Environment Washington.

The Environment Washington report on the value of recreation, water and wildlife, “Worth More Wild: The Value of Washington’s Roadless National Forests,” analyzes data from a national survey done by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. 

Key findings of the report include:

• In 2006, 2.3 million Washington residents participated in fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching, and these recreationists spent $2.7 billion in Washington on transportation, lodging, equipment, licenses, and other related items.  The economic strength of this outdoor recreation relies on pristine and intact forestland.
• Annually, more than $950 million worth of freshwater comes from the Pacific Northwest Forest Service region, which encompasses Washington.
• Undeveloped national forests provide critical habitat to Washington’s native wildlife, and at least 14 of the state’s endangered species would be even more threatened without the protection of roadless areas.

“Pristine forests boost local economies, provide unique outdoor opportunities, preserve wildlife, and protect watersheds, but a major portion of our national forestland is defenseless against logging,” said Environment Washington Field Associate Amy Peterson.

Washington’s national forests face road building and resource extraction from the timber industry.  Since those who choose to recreate in national forests tend to look for untouched lands, spoiling those lands will send recreationists and their money elsewhere.

“The wild  rivers and lands of our state and the opportunities for the public to enjoy them represent an incredible natural asset. Preserving these lands for future generations is important for our quality of life,” said Thomas O'Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director with American Whitewater.  American Whitewater is an organization formed more than 50 years ago with the specific goal of protecting the wilderness character of our nation's waterways.

Since 2000, Washington residents have submitted 146,308 comments to the Forest Service, with the vast majority supporting complete protection of these wild forestlands. 

Environment Washington asks the members of Washington’s Congressional delegation to join Representatives Inslee, McDermott, and Smith in protecting these untouched forests by supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 2516).  The bill will protect 2 million acres of roadless forests in Washington and 58.5 million acres of untouched forests nationally. 

“We must preserve the beautiful and pristine parts of our national forests so that they can be shared and appreciated by everyone,” concluded Peterson.  “Washington’s forests are a part of our state’s legacy that ought to be preserved for generations to come.  For this to happen, we need all of our decision-makers to take leadership on this issue as it comes before them in Congress.”

Read the full report.