King County Rural Forest Commission seeks applicants

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is seeking volunteers to fill four vacant positions on the Rural Forest Commission. The commission was established in 1997 to provide input to the King County Executive and County Council on matters pertaining to forestland and forestry.

The commission advises King County on policies and programs affecting rural forestry, works to identify strategies to conserve forestlands and promotes the practice of forestry in rural areas of the county.

These are volunteer positions that require attendance at six morning meetings a year, plus some subcommittee work.

Citizens with a working knowledge of King County forestry, the ability to work with differing viewpoints to find solutions to complex problems and who meet at least one of the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

• An owner of a small forest acreage, especially one for whom income from forestry is an important component of total income;
• A community member who represents a rural city;
• A community member who represents an affected Indian tribe; or
• A community member who represents consumers or users of local forest products, such as a mill owner, lumber supplier, craftsman, florist supplier or user of other alternative forest products.

Other groups represented on the Rural Forest Commission include the environmental community, industrial forestland owners, small forestland owners and professional foresters.

"We hope to have a diverse group of citizens who share a strong commitment to conserving forestland in the county," said Linda Vane, King County's staff liaison to the commission.

To request an application package or would like to learn more about the Rural Forest Commission, contact King County's Forestry Program, 206-296-8042, email linda.vane@kingcounty.gov or visit the Web page at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/forestry/ruralforestcommission.aspx.

For more information on King County's Forestry Program, visit the Web page at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wlr/forestryprogram.aspx.