Dear John,

You've likely seen the headlines this year, such as "Megadrought in American West: a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years," "Air quality plummets as smoke from roaring wildfires chokes US west," and "UN science report sounds deafening alarm on climate."

These are not something out of a movie. These are the headlines this year because the climate crisis isn't in the future anymore. It is here now.

At WEC and WCV, we believe healthy forests and our public lands have a vital role to play in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis and protecting the health of our communities — especially the most vulnerable among us.

That's why, since 2015, Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters have produced the annual State of our Forests and Public Lands Report, which assesses progress made by Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Commissioner is the only statewide elected office that works almost exclusively with our natural resources. Their actions are critical to the health of Washington’s forests, ecosystems, and people.

>> Read the 2022 State of our Forests and Public Lands Report to see how our Commissioner of Public Lands did this year << 

This year’s evaluation shows that where Commissioner Franz has chosen to lead, she has achieved notable accomplishments: in jumpstarting the agency’s prescribed fire program, expanding technical support for small forest landowners, launching a first-ever carbon offset project on Washington’s state lands, passing legislation on derelict vessels and kelp and eelgrass, and making important progress on Trust Land Transfer.

However, significant challenges remain. DNR has not followed through on core aspects of the agency’s mission related to forest carbon sequestration, management of older forests on state lands, and forest practices. For example, on state trust lands, the need for leadership is highlighted by public engagement, activism, and the recent State Supreme Court decision that state lands can be managed for public benefit. Public scrutiny of state trust land management is a clear indication that DNR is not delivering what trust beneficiaries and the public need. Additionally, DNR's new wildfire resilience work must evolve to meaningfully respond to community priorities and needs.

In the coming year, the commissioner has a critical opportunity to follow through on this year’s progress to bring tangible impacts to Washingtonians, and to advance a progressive agenda centered on climate change, environmental justice, and tribal sovereignty. We look to the year ahead with a sense of both urgency and optimism.

>> Read the report to see the progress made (and the progress still needed) by Commissioner Franz <<

Yours in service, 

Rachel Baker (she/her)
Forest Program Director