The Washington Department of Natural Resources is selling off trees to be logged on public land that include mature (legacy) and old growth trees. Because we are in a global warming crisis this must stop. The giant conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest store more carbon per acre than any other forests of the world. These legacy trees sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere for long periods of time. When a tree is cut down most of it’s carbon is released through waste during harvest and manufacturing. Newly planted trees will take decades before they store as much as the older trees.
Legacy trees reduce flooding and erosion risk by holding water in the soil from heavy rains. They promote biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife.
Older trees are better able to withstand and recover from fires because they have thicker bark. Some species have lower branch self pruning which limits fire crown spread.
On DNR lands there should be no logging of trees of 80 years and older.
Heather Yancey Pens
Olympia
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