SEATTLE, Aug. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser
Company (NYSE: WY) today announced an agreement to open
roughly 90 acres of sustainably managed private forest near the
peaks of West Tiger Mountain in Issaquah,
Wash., to permanent public access following a planned
harvest this month. Working in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural
Resources, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and Issaquah Alps
Trails Club, Weyerhaeuser will then support rebuilding trails and
opening the property for public recreational access as soon as
possible after the completion of harvest activities this
fall.
Weyerhaeuser has gradually transitioned most of its acreage on
and around Tiger Mountain to public ownership starting in the
1970s, helping establish the trails system that has become a
popular resource along the I-90 corridor for outdoors enthusiasts
in Seattle and surrounding areas.
The company retained these 90 acres in part to maintain access and
clearance for communications towers located on the mountain. While
still preserving access to the towers for ongoing maintenance,
Weyerhaeuser has committed to a long-term conservation strategy on
its remaining acres on West Tiger Mountain to ensure largely
contiguous public access throughout Tiger Mountain State
Forest.
"Our vision for forest preservation within the Issaquah Alps and
across the entire Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage
Area has always included a balance of both forest conservation and
retention of working forest lands," said Jon Hoekstra, executive director for the
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. "Tiger Mountain is a unique
place where many uses come together: conservation in some areas,
sustainable timber harvest in others, recreational activities, and
environmental protection of headwater streams for salmon. We value
our decades-long history of collaboration with public land
management agencies and private landowners like Weyerhaeuser to
achieve a positive mix of public and environmental benefits on the
landscape."
"Tiger Mountain is a unique and beloved place to us," said
Lindsay Frickle, executive director of the Issaquah Alps Trails
Club. "It's at the center of much of our advocacy work and has
always included working forests alongside conservation and
recreation. Our work over the last 40 years in collaboration with
land management agencies as well as Weyerhaeuser has focused on
achieving the best possible outcomes for all land use needs. We
realize no one likes to see logging in their own backyard, but we
believe there can be a balance between working forests,
conservation, wildlife and recreation. The positive outcomes we've
advocated for, including a conservation strategy for land where
possible, replanting of healthy and resilient forests, and the
restoration of trail systems for recreation on Tiger, prove that's
true. Throughout this harvest and afterwards, we will encourage
conversations from all perspectives, including conservation groups,
recreationists and the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this
land since time immemorial. We will also voice the ongoing concerns
of our community and promote solutions that balance the needs of
all who love the Issaquah Alps."
Working in consultation with the Greenway Trust and IATC, DNR is
leading the design work on rebuilding a sustainable trail
system.
"We are working in good faith with all our partners and will do
our best to help mitigate disruptions to the trail system on West
Tiger Mountain," said Scott Sargent,
DNR's South Puget Sound Region Manager.
Weyerhaeuser expects harvest activities to be completed before
the end of the year, and trail work could begin on the ground as
soon as spring 2022. In addition to reconnecting existing corridors
that were closed or changed during the harvest period, planners are
looking at opportunities to adjust and improve certain routes,
including how to capitalize on new view opportunities near the
summit. Also, in accordance with Weyerhaeuser's sustainable
forestry standards and state regulations, 100 percent of the area
will be replanted after the harvest with a mix of native
Douglas-fir, noble fir and other species.
"We recognize the tremendous importance of this land to the
recreational community, and we have always valued working
proactively with local organizations, conservation groups, public
land managers and other partners," said Travis Keatley, vice president of Western
Timberlands for Weyerhaeuser. "We appreciate their understanding of
the value of working forests in Washington, and we're excited to find a
positive solution on West Tiger Mountain that will ensure
long-term, and safe, public access to this special area."
Of the nearly 23 million acres of forestland in the state of
Washington, nearly 11 million
acres are working forests. These forests are described as "working
forests" because they produce a sustainable supply of trees for the
production of essential wood, paper and pulp-based products, all
while providing clean air and water, wildlife habitat and
recreational opportunities, among many other benefits. Nearly 70
percent of the timber harvest in Washington comes from privately owned
forestland, and working forests overall support more than 101,000
jobs in communities across the state.
ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the
world's largest private owners of timberlands, began
operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million
acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands
under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on
a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally
recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest
manufacturers of wood products in America. Our company is
a real estate investment trust. In 2020, we
generated $7.5 billion in net sales and employed
approximately 9,400 people who serve customers worldwide. We are
listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Our
common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The Washington State Department of Natural
Resources manages nearly 1,300 miles of trails and 160-plus
recreation sites in 3 million acres of working forest state trust
lands and 92 natural areas. DNR trust lands keep forests
development-free, provide clean water, and generate revenue for
public services and school construction. DNR also conserves 164,000
acres of highest-quality ecological features in designated Natural
Area Preserves and Natural Resources Conservation Areas that
provide opportunities for research, environmental education and
low-impact recreation. For the latest information on recreation on
DNR-managed lands, visit dnr.wa.gov/open.
ABOUT MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY TRUST
The Mountains
to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area is a unique geographic
corridor made up of connected ecosystems and communities spanning
1.5-million-acres from Seattle to
Ellensburg along the I-90
corridor. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is a
coalition-based organization that leads and inspires action to
conserve and enhance this special landscape, ensuring a long-term
balance between people and nature. Founded in 1991, the
Greenway Trust works to conserve and restore natural lands,
open spaces, and historic sites; build and maintain recreational
trails; engage with students through our environmental education
program; advocate for public lands and recreational access; lead a
robust volunteer program; and so much more. Learn more at
mtsgreenway.org.
ABOUT THE ISSAQUAH ALPS
TRAILS CLUB
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club is a 40-year old
organization dedicated to engaging the public to
preserve, protect, and promote the land, wildlife, and trails of
the Issaquah Alps for present and future generations. We raise
awareness around challenges facing our public lands through guided
hikes and community education. We take action to make sure everyone
can enjoy the trails, parks, and open spaces of the Issaquah Alps
now and into the future. Learn more about the Issaquah Alps
Trails Club, or join us for an event at issaquahalps.org.
For more information contact:
Analysts –
Beth Baum, 206-539-3907
Media – Mary Catherine
McAleer, 206-539-4546
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SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company