King County seeks applicants for Rural Forest Commission positions
Published 8:29 pm Sunday, November 16, 2014
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is looking for volunteers to serve on the Rural Forest Commission and advise the King County Executive and County Council on matters pertaining to forestland and forestry.
Created in 1997, the commission also advises King County on policies and programs affecting rural forests; works to identify strategies to conserve forestlands; and promotes the business of forestry in rural areas.
“The commission provides a forum to discuss rural viewpoints and conveys recommendations for policy and regulatory changes directly to county managers and elected officials,” said Linda Vane, King County’s staff liaison to the commission.
These volunteer positions require attendance at six morning meetings a year, plus some subcommittee work. There are three vacant positions to fill.
King County residents with a working knowledge of forestry in the county, the ability to work with differing viewpoints to find solutions to complex problems, and who meet at least one of the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- A representative of a forest landowner with more than 500 acres of rural forest land in King County;
- An owner of non-industrial private forestland in King County, especially one with 40 to 500 acres of forestland, for whom income from forestry is an important component of total income;
- An advocate of non-timber values of forestland, such as environmental protection, recreation and open space;
- Affected Indian tribes;
- Academic or professional foresters, or forestry associations; or
- A consumer or user of local forest products, such as a mill owner, lumber supplier, craftsman, florist supplier, or user of other alternative forest products.
To request an application package or to learn more about the Rural Forest Commission, contact King County’s Forestry Program at 206-477-4842; e-mail linda.vane@kingcounty.gov; or visit the website.
