Sustainable Resource
Management: Some Observations
Regarding WDNR Lands
B. Bruce Bare
College of Forest Resources
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
October 24, 2001 -- Forks, WA
Qualification

The opinions offered tonight are
mine and not those of the BNR or the
University of Washington.
2
One Key Goal for the BNR

The board of natural resources shall
establish policies to ensure that the
management of lands and resources
within the Department's jurisdiction
are based on sound principles
designed to achieve "the maximum
effective development and use of
such lands" (RCW 43.30.150 ).
3
Observation

From this statute it is clear (to me)
that our fore fathers viewed the
Department’s role as one of an active
steward.
4
A Second Key Goal for the BNR

Washington statutes regarding the
administration of the federal grant
lands also reflect the primary
objective of maximizing the
economic returns due the benefiting
institutions (AGO Opinion 11, 1996).
5
Observations
Case law throughout the West has
generally upheld the notion that
income generation is a paramount
obligation of Federal grant land
managers.
 Maintenance of the corpus of the
trust must also be considered.

6
Categories of Lands
Public lands: Lands belonging to, or
held in trust by the state, which are
not devoted to or reserved for a
particular use by law.
 State lands:

– School lands held in trust for the
support of the common schools;
7
Categories of Lands
– University lands held in trust for
university purposes;
– Agricultural college lands held in trust
for the use and support of agricultural
colleges;
– Scientific school lands held in trust for
the establishment and maintenance of a
scientific school;
8
Categories of Lands
– Normal school lands held in trust for
state normal schools;
– Capitol building lands held in trust for
the purpose of erecting public buildings
at the state capital for legislative,
executive and judicial purposes;
– Institutional lands held in trust for state
charitable, educational, penal and
reformatory institutions; and
9
Categories of Lands
– All public lands of the state, except
tidelands, shore lands, harbor areas and
the beds of navigable waters.
10
Key Statutes: Multiple Use

The management and administration
of state-owned lands under the
jurisdiction of the department of
natural resources to provide for
several uses simultaneously (on a
single tract and/or planned rotation)
of one or more uses on and between
specific portions of the total
ownership (RCW 79.68.020).
11
Multiple Use

Legislature directs that a multiple
use concept be utilized by the
department of natural resources in
the management and administration
of state-owned lands where such a
concept is in the best interests of the
state and
12
Multiple Use

the general welfare of the citizens
thereof, and is consistent with the
applicable trust provisions of the
various lands involved (RCW
79.68.010).
13
Key Statutes: Sustained Yield

Management of the forest to provide
harvesting on a continuing basis
without major prolonged curtailment
or cessation of harvest. (RCW
79.68.030)
14
Sustainable Harvest

The volume of timber scheduled for
sale from state-owned lands during a
planning decade as calculated by the
department of natural resources and
approved by the board of natural
resources.
15
Timber Harvest Policy

The Department will manage state
forest lands to produce a sustainable
even flow harvest of timber subject
to economic, environmental and
regulatory considerations. (Forest
Resource Plan, 1992)
16
Even Flow Harvest

A sustainable harvest wherein the
planned sale volume remains
constant from one decade to the
next.
17
Observations on Even Flow

Most times, an even flow interpretation is
more constraining and, hence, more
costly to the trusts than a more flexible
interpretation permissible under RCW
79.68.030.
 But, it provides some degree of volume
certainty to local communities.
 Favored by Federal land agencies.
18
Nondeclining Flow

A sustainable harvest wherein the
planned sale volume either remains
constant or increases from one
decade to the next over the planning
horizon.
19
Modulating Flow

A sustainable harvest wherein the
planned sale volume fluctuates up
(or down) within prescribed limits
from one decade to the next over the
planning horizon.
20
Observations on Modulating Flow
The most flexible (least constraining)
to a trust manager.
 Generally produces the greatest
economic returns to the trust
beneficiaries.
 Generally leads to the harvest of all
over mature timber as fast as harvest
flow constraints permit leading to a

21
Observations
reduction in the planned sale volume
until re-growth leads to an increase
over time.
 The next slides illustrate a few of
these points.

22
23
24
Planning Scenarios

DNR: Uses 60+ year rotations; on/off
base acre allocations as shown; no
wildlife thins; no partial cuts in the
60-70 year old age classes; even flow
harvest constraints; no harvests in
riparian or wetland areas;
nondeclining late seral conditions.
25
Planning Scenarios

ALTS: Uses 50+ year rotations; on/off
base acre allocations as shown;
wildlife thins; partial cuts in the 60-70
year old age classes; + 25% change
in harvest from one decade to the
next; partial harvests in riparian or
wetland areas if on-base;
nondeclining late seral conditions.
26
W Washington Acreage Summary
ALTS
DNR
Acres
Acres
On Base 1,178,154 1,035,586
Off Base 247,937 390,508
Total 1,426,091 1,426,094
27
Scenario Results
W Washington
North Puget
South Puget
Columbia
Straits
OESF
South Coast
Six Unit Total
% Difference
DNR
7.505
1.945
0.85
1.581
0.715
0.781
1.416
7.288
3%
Asset Values ($ Billion)
ALTS
% Difference
9.799
31%
2.487
28%
1.091
28%
1.976
25%
1.034
45%
1.379
77%
1.746
23%
9.713
33%
1%
ACRES
381,403
141,815
283,021
113,143
240,835
265,877
1,426,094
28
Annual Harvest
(MMBF)
W Washington Timber Harvest
(DNR$7.5;ALTS$9.8)
2000
1500
DNR
ALTS
1000
500
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Decade
29
W Washington Net Revenue
Annual Net
Revenue(MM$)
2000
1500
DNR
ALTS
1000
500
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
Decade
30
Inventory (BBF)
W Washington Inventory
40
30
DNR
ALTS
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
Decade
31
Acres ('000)
W Washington Old Forest Habitat
400
300
DNR
ALTS
200
100
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
Decade
32
DNR
Stand Stucture Distribution
100
FF/OG
ND/BD
80
DU
70
UR
60
CE
50
EI
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Decade
7
8
9
10
ALTS
Stand Stucture Distribution
100
FF/OG
90
Share of Structure(%)
Share of Structure(%)
90
ND/BD
80
DU
70
UR
60
CE
50
EI
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Decade
7
8
9
10
33
Ideas as a Member of the BNR
Consider adopting sustainable
forestry as the guiding paradigm.
 Rethink how we group lands to form
sustainable harvest units.
 Rethink the utility of the use of “on”
and “off” base lands to meet our land
management objectives.

34
Ideas as a Member of the BNR
To better meet our economic
responsibilities, ensure that all
management practices pass a
minimum economic test before
inclusion in management plans.
 Take steps to ensure each trust that
its lands are being managed to
achieve the best results.

35
Sustainable Forestry

Managing a forest to meet all existing
regulations such that environmental,
social and economic factors are
balanced to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their needs.
36
Sustainable Forestry

A land stewardship ethic that
integrates reforestation, growing,
and harvesting trees for useful
products while conserving soil, air,
and water quality, wildlife and fish
habitat and aesthetics, and
protecting: a) the resource from fire,
pests, and diseases and b) lands of
special significance.
37
Sustainable Forestry

Consider key values:
– biodiversity
– habitat protection and enhancement
– riparian/wet land protection
– protection of productive capacity
– protection of endangered plants and
animals
– protection of cultural, spiritual, and
historical sites
38
Sustainable Forestry

Definition conveys the notion that
sustainability applies to many
resources in addition to timber;
considers the needs of future
generations as well as those of the
present; is concerned with ecological
functions and condition; and is as
much a social and economic as a
bio-physical process.
39
Sustainability Occurs at the Intersection
Econ
Soc
Env
40
Observations
The challenge to actually define and
implement sustainable forestry is
tremendous.
 It may be the greatest challenge for
educators, resource managers,
scientists, and policy makers at the
start of this Century.

41
Observations
Our College is adopting
sustainability as its key integrating
concept.
 Our undergraduate and graduate
programs are being redesigned to
support: sustainable forestry,
sustainable urban environments and
sustainable enterprises.

42
Observations
There are not many examples of
where we have successfully
achieved adoption of a sustainable
forestry program in Washington.
 Some may differ arguing that the
HCP for our WDNR lands is an
example of such a program.

43
Observations
Others might argue that forest lands
certified under the FSC or SFI
principles qualify as examples.
 Others would agree with me, citing
lack of compliance with the seven
indicators and 67 criteria to the
Montreal Process to which the USA
agreed.

44
Quick Look at Current BNR Policy
Use an even flow model (Forest
Resource Plan, 1992) .
 Definition of ownership groups.
 Use of “off base” acres to meet
policy goals.
 Individual vs. consolidated trust
management plans.

45
Current Ownership Groups

W Washington:
– forest board transfer (16 counties)
– Federal grant and forest board purchase lands
(5 administrative regions)
– Capitol State Forest
– OESF

A total of 23 separate even flow harvests.
46
Current Ownership Groups

E Washington:
– All State lands (5 administrative
regions)

A total of 5 separate even flow
harvests.
47
Observation

An even flow harvest model coupled
with 28 independent ownership
groups may lead to more volume
certainty for each group, but comes
at the expense of lost opportunities
to the trust beneficiaries. We should
re-examine this policy.
48
Observation

We also need to re-examine how we
establish the rotation age as well as
the economics associated with all
management practices included in
our management programs.
49
Current BNR Policy

Off base acres do not contribute to
the sustainable harvest. They include
lands:
– too small, isolated or costly to harvest
– can not produce another crop of timber within
80 years
– of risk to public resources
– deferred from harvest (owl habitat, old growth,
gene pool, and mature natural stands)
50
Observation

If we adopt sustainable forestry as our
guiding management paradigm, we may
wish to do away with most (all) categories
of “off” base lands as we recognize that
all lands support the generation of
desirable outputs or functions. Our
current use of on and off base is biased
towards timber production. We should reexamine this policy.
51
Responsibilities Run Separately to Each Trust
No sustainable harvest is currently
determined for each individual trust.
 Lands from various trusts may be
grouped into a consolidated
management plan, but only if each
trust is not disadvantaged.
 We need to re-examine this issue.

52
Conclusions

Exciting times lie ahead as we
evaluate the use of sustainable
forestry on our state trust lands.
53