Olympia, WA. – Washington state’s forestry sector leaders gathered Thursday (November 21st) for the 2024 Annual Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) annual meeting. WFPA, the trade association representing the interests of the state’s private forest landowners for 116 years, is a trusted authority on sustainable forestry practices and a leading voice on the important role private forest landowners play in advancing forest health, land stewardship, science-backed forest management approaches, and economic opportunity throughout the state.
Annual meeting panelists former State Reps. JT Wilcox and Jim Buck.
WFPA executive director Jason Spadaro.
WFPA President Robert Bass provided welcome remarks that underscored the critical role of working forests in Washington state and throughout the United States. WFPA executive director Jason Spadaro highlighted why Washington state is the best place to grow and produce wood products in his keynote speech. The annual meeting also included panels featuring numerous industry leaders, including a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Washington State Department of Commerce, Sustainable NW, Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, The Nature Conservancy, Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Union, and the American Forest Resource Council.
University of Washington associate professor Indroneil Ganguly and three University of Washington graduate students spoke on the benefits of working forests. Included among the forestry sector luminaries were Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council vice chair Loni Greninger, former State Reps. JT Wilcox (R-Yelm) and Jim Buck (R-Joyce), and WFPA executive director Spadaro who all participated in a panel discussion on a 25-year retrospective on the Forests & Fish Law.
WFPA president Robert Bass.
In addition, WFPA recognized Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and State. Reps. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake), Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda), and Larry Springer (D-Kirkland) with the Stu Bledsoe Award for their advocacy work in addressing the state’s wildfire crisis and leadership in urging the state leaders to approve dedicated wildfire funding with the passage of HB 1168. Among the state lawmakers who participated in panel discussions, Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D – Bellingham), Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia), Rep. Larry Springer (D-Kirkland), and Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn) shared with the audience their priorities and perspective on the upcoming 2025 legislative session. The Washington Tree Farm Program also awarded Casa Becca Del Norte Tree Farm of Chewelah the Tree Farmer of the Year Award.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council vice chair Loni Grenginger.
WFPA leaders Spadaro and Bass concluded the meeting urging members to further cultivate relationships with partners and engage community stakeholders to spread the message on the importance of a thriving, robust forestry sector.
WFPA was founded in 1908 when forestry sector leaders came together to form a voluntary association to address forest fires. The organization has since expanded to include a host of forest landowners who grow and harvest trees on about 4 million acres of privately held forest lands in Washington state. Members range from multinational corporations to smaller companies, as well as individuals and families who are committed to promoting Washington’s private forests.
You can check out the 2024 WFPA annual report here. If you’d like to see the agenda with links, click here.
About the Washington Forest Protection Association
The Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) represents private forest landowners growing and harvesting trees on about 4 million acres in Washington State. Members of the 116-year-old association are large and small companies, individuals and families who practice sustainable forestry in Washington’s private forests. For more information, go to www.wfpa.org.