There is hereby created the institute of forest resources of the state of Washington which shall operate under the authority of the board of regents of the University of Washington.

Severability—1979 c 50: "If any provision of this amendatory act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1979 c 50 s 8.]

The institute of forest resources shall be administered and directed by the director of the school of forest resources at the University of Washington.

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: "(1) The legislature finds that there are many challenges facing the forest sector, such as climate change, loss of forest cover in rural and urban areas, forest health and fire risks, the development of environmental service markets, the enhancement of habitat and biodiversity, timber and water supply, restoration of forest ecosystems, and the economic health of forest-dependent communities that rely on the retention of working forests.

(2) The legislature further finds that these forest issues, which occur in both rural and urban environments, and the approaches taken to address the issues, transcend the expertise and mission of the University of Washington school of forest resources and the associated centers and cooperatives. While each of these centers and cooperatives contribute expertise and resources, the structure and continuity for the integrated, interdisciplinary approach needed to address these complex issues is lacking.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature for the institute of forest resources to provide the structure and continuity needed by drawing contributions from the associated centers and cooperatives into a more consolidated, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and integrated process that is responsive to the critical issues confronting the forest sector." [ 2011 c 187 s 1.]

Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.

(1) The institute of forest resources shall pursue coordinated research and education related to the forest sector and its multiple components, including:

(a) Forest conservation, restoration, sustainable management, and utilization;

(b) The evaluation of the economic, ecological, and societal value of forestland in both the rural and urban environment;

(c) The manufacture and marketing of forest products, including timber products, nontimber products, environmental services, and the provision of recreation and aesthetic values.

(2) The institute of forest resources must seek to provide a framework for identifying, prioritizing, funding, and conducting interdisciplinary research critical to the forest sector and the development of integrated, synthesized information and decision support tools that improve the understanding of complex forestry issues for stakeholders, policymakers, and other interested parties.

(3) In pursuit of these objectives, the institute of forest resources is authorized to cooperate, when cooperation advances the objectives listed in this section, with other entities, including but not limited to:

(a) Universities;

(b) State and federal agencies;

(c) Conservation and environmental organizations;

(d) *Community and urban forestry organizations; and

(e) Domestic or foreign industrial and business institutions.

*Reviser's note: Chapter 209, Laws of 2021 changed the name of the program in chapter 76.15 RCW from "community and urban forestry" to "urban forest management plan."

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.

Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.

The results of any research undertaken by the institute or in which the institute participates shall be available to all industries and citizens of the state of Washington and the institute is authorized to disseminate such information.

Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.

(1) The institute of forest resources may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devices, including both real or personal property, in trust or otherwise, to be directed to the institute for carrying out the objectives of the institute as provided in this chapter.

(2) The institute of forest resources may solicit contracts for work, financial and in-kind contributions, and support from private industries, interest groups, federal and state sources, and other sources deemed appropriate by the director of the institute.

(3) The institute of forest resources may utilize separately appropriated funds of the University of Washington for the institute's operations and activities.

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.

Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.

The legislature finds that there are many issues facing the forest sector, such as climate change, forest health and fire, carbon accounting, habitat and diversity, timber and water supplies, economic competitiveness, and the economic health of forest dependent communities. Enhancing the capability to effectively address these forest issues is critical to the state of Washington. To meet this need, the University of Washington school of forest resources will continue to work with the various interests concerned with the state's forest resources, including the legislature, state and federal governments, environmental organizations, local communities, the timber industry, and tribes, to improve these entities' ability to competitively recruit, educate, and train a high quality workforce. In order to meet these goals, it is important to our state, and in particular the University of Washington, to continue to have strong undergraduate and graduate programs in forestry and natural resources to provide well-trained professionals to meet workforce needs.

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.

Findings—Intent—2010 c 188: "(1) The legislature finds that sustainably managed commercial forestry produces jobs and revenue while also providing clean water, clean air, renewable energy, wildlife habitat, open space, and carbon storage, among other ecological values. For these reasons, maintaining a base of forestlands that may be utilized for sustainably managed commercial forestry is of utmost importance to the state.

(2) The legislature finds that the promotion and fostering of the economic success of the forest products industry with the goal of keeping sustainably managed forestry as a priority land use, and helping to secure the timber managing, growing, harvesting, transporting, and manufacturing jobs is made possible by a vibrant working forestland base.

(3) The legislature further finds that maintaining sustainable working forests is important for the quality of life of all Washingtonians, and that sustainable forest practices can help to maintain and restore the vitality of Washington's communities while also helping to preserve Washington's natural landscapes and ecosystems.

(4) The legislature further finds that it is necessary to assist landowners in gaining access to additional sources of revenue, such as emerging ecosystem services markets, and to help landowners diversify their incomes, improve the ecological functions of their lands, and pass their lands and the lands' associated benefits to future generations.

(5) The legislature further finds that the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems provide services to the residents of the state that help improve water and habitat quality, help avoid carbon emissions, help address impacts associated with climate change, and help natural resources adapt to these impacts.

(6) The legislature further finds that ecosystem services markets can lead to efficient, innovative, and effective conservation and restoration actions and facilitate improved integration of public and private investment.

(7) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to develop tools to facilitate small and industrial forestland owners' access to market capital from existing and emerging ecosystem services markets.

(8) The legislature further intends to enable forestland owners who provide ecosystem services access to financing to protect, restore, and maintain the ecological values provided by protection of public resources." [ 2010 c 188 s 1.]

(1) The director of the school of forest resources at the University of Washington may, at the discretion of the director, appoint and maintain an eleven-member policy advisory committee to advise the director on policies for the institute of forest resources that are consistent with the institute's objectives as provided in this chapter.

(2) If activated, the membership of the policy advisory committee must represent, to the extent possible, the various interests concerned with the institute of forest resources, including state and federal agencies, tribal governments, conservation and environmental organizations, urban forestry interests, rural communities, industry, and business.

(3) Members of the advisory committee may not receive any salary or other compensation for service on the advisory committee. However, each member may be compensated, at the discretion of the director of the institute, for each day in actual attendance at or traveling to and from meetings of the advisory committee in accordance with RCW 43.03.220 together with travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.

The director of the school of forest resources at the University of Washington shall coordinate the various cooperatives and centers within the school of forest resources to promote a holistic, efficient, and integrated approach that broadens the research and outreach programs and addresses issues facing the forest sector.

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.