King County seeks applicants for Rural Forest Commission positions

Members provide valuable advice on policies and programs affecting rural forestry

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is looking for volunteers to serve on the Rural Forest Commission and advise the King County Executive and County Council on matters pertaining to forestland and forestry.

Created in 1997, 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.

“One of the benefits of the commission is the opportunity to communicate rural viewpoints directly to county managers and elected officials," said Linda Vane, King County’s staff liaison to the commission.

These are volunteer positions that require attendance at six morning meetings a year, plus some subcommittee work. There are four vacant positions to fill.

King County residents who have a working knowledge of forestry in the county, 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 a residential forest landowner with more than 20 acres of rural forest land enrolled in the Forest Land Designation Program (84.33 RCW);
• A community member who represents a rural city;
• A representative of a forestry professional association; 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, Native American tribes, industrial forestland owners, small forestland owners and professional foresters.

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

For more information on King County’s forestry services and programs, visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/forestry.

Related information

Rural Forest Commission

Forestry services and information

King County Water and Land Resources