Whatcom County task force adopts four forest-resilience goals

The Whatcom County Forest Resilience Task Force on Jan. 13 adopted four goal statements to guide preparation of its countywide forest resilience plan.

The task force approved the statements after a group discussion and a motion to adopt the four items on screen. The adopted language reads, in part: “Whatcom County forest and tree canopy cover is retained and increased where ecologically appropriate”; “Forest resilience is improved through active forest-land stewardship”; “Forest benefits are optimized and diversified”; and “Local, state, federal, and tribal partners and others work together to align and implement forest management and resilience strategies.”

The vote was taken by voice; meeting audio records multiple “aye” responses and no recorded opposition. The motion and second were stated on the record but no individual mover/second were named in the meeting audio reviewed for this article. The task force chair confirmed adoption and moved the meeting forward.

Members and staff said the adopted goal statements will be refined when subcommittees draft measurable objectives and specific policy or action language. Several task force members emphasized that the goals are intended as landscape-scale, countywide outcomes rather than immediate, enforceable regulations. Barry (task force member) and others urged development of follow-on policy language to clarify how goals apply across jurisdictions and to provide guidance that would be defensible if challenged in court.

Task force staff said the next meeting, scheduled Feb. 10, will focus on objective statements, and subcommittees will bring recommended objectives that will be used to operationalize the newly adopted goals.

The task force did not adopt implementing policies or actions at this meeting; members agreed the policy and objective work will be developed by subcommittees and returned to the full body for review.