National Forests Committee

The National Forests Committee engages in issues affecting National Forests in the Washington Cascades and Olympic Mountains. We work to preserve and protect ancient forests, roadless areas, watersheds, and forest habitat. Committee members learn about forest management and biology, analyze and comment on land management projects, draw up proposals for protection and restoration, lobby government officials, and educate the public. Our efforts are run mostly by our volunteers.

Our major projects are:

• Cascade Checkerboard Project: We work to improve public land ownership patterns between Mt. Rainier and Stevens Pass and to restore wildlife habitat connections in this biologically important area.
• Wild Places Campaign: We work to preserve roadless areas from development and to gain permanent protection wherever possible, such as the Wild Skykomish Wilderness that is being considered in Congress. To benefit native salmon, wildlife, and recreation, we also work to restore forest watersheds by removing roads and manmade obstructions to fish.
• Trails: We care about trail-based recreation, working to reduce the use of motorized vehicles on trails in sensitive areas and to improve non-motorized trails. Each spring and summer we sponsor trail work parties where we repair and maintain trails.

Please join us at the next committee meeting! We meet every first Wednesday of the month, except in August, at 7 pm at the Cascade Chapter office, 180 Nickerson Street, Suite 202, Seattle.

For more information, please contact the committee chair, Mark Lawler.