Forestry

Washington state’s conservation districts are ideally situated to assist with forest stewardship, wildfire preparedness, and wildfire recovery on privately held forest and range land. Conservation districts have established relationships with local, state, and federal agency partners and have spent decades creating trusting relationships with private landowners, allowing them to work quickly and collaboratively to address natural resource issues.

Forest Health & Community Wildfire Resiliency

Conservation districts provide critical resources to address forest health and wildfire resiliency. Their local programs offer continuous services to Washington residents year-round. Conservation districts’ efforts are vital to effective forest health improvements and community wildfire resilience work statewide.

The image highlights that wildfires burned over a quarter million acres in Washington in 2025, emphasizing the coexistence with wildfire.
Slide stating that wildfires burn over a quarter million acres per year.
The image discusses conservation districts (CDs) that aid communities in building wildfire resilience and recovery efforts.
Slide stating that conservation districts help communities with wildfire resiliency.
The image highlights how community efforts help make properties safer from wildfires by managing trees and debris.
Slide talking about how conservation districts help communities make their properties safer from wildfires.
The image promotes wildfire preparedness in Washington, encouraging support for local conservation districts. Visit wadistricts.org/forestry.
Slide encouraging people to visit wadistricts.org/forestry to learn more.
The image highlights that wildfires burned over a quarter million acres in Washington in 2025, emphasizing the coexistence with wildfire.
The image discusses conservation districts (CDs) that aid communities in building wildfire resilience and recovery efforts.
The image highlights how community efforts help make properties safer from wildfires by managing trees and debris.
The image promotes wildfire preparedness in Washington, encouraging support for local conservation districts. Visit wadistricts.org/forestry.

Why Funding Matters

This work is funded by the Washington State Conservation Commission’s Forest Health & Community Wildfire Resiliency Program. Catastrophic wildfires pose an increasing threat to lives, homes, working lands, habitat, and public health across Washington. With nearly half of the state’s forests privately owned and wildfire risk expanding into urban areas, this program prioritizes targeted, locally led, non-regulatory solutions tailored to communities statewide.

Funding Impacts from State Budget Cuts

The image promotes funding for Washington's conservation districts to enhance wildfire resilience and protect communities.
An image from WACD's postcard campaign describing budget cuts .

Funding for this critical program was cut by 83% in the state's 25-27 biennium budget. 

  • Funding for 2023-25: $15 million
  • Funding for 2025-27: $2.5 million
  • SCC's request for the supplementAL budget: $2.5 million

The State Conservation Commission requested $2.5 million in the supplemental budget to maintain conservation district programs so they can continue to serve their local communities.

What You Can Do To Help

Contact your local legislators and encourage them to support your local conservation district and Forest Health and Community Wildfire Resiliency funding. Together, we can keep the Evergreen State ever-ready to stand against wildfire.

Questions - Contact Us.

 

Example Programs at Conservation Districts

Forest Health and Resources 
Fire Recovery Programs 
Firewise and Wildfire Planning 
Urban Forestry