Current Land-Use Laws and Zoning: Impacts on Private Forestlands

Abstract

Partial Abstract:

Private industrial and non-industrial forest landowners in Washington face federal, state, and local regulations concerning the practice of commercial forestry. Such regulations certainly impact decisions related to conversion of forestlands into other uses. This paper briefly describes relevant laws and regulations governing forestry operations in Washington, including the State Forest Practices Act (FPA), the State Forests and Fish Rules (FFR), economic mitigation programs associated with those rules, federal Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP’s), conservation easements, forestry and conservation tax issues, and the State Growth Management Act (GMA).