2026 Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference

Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference 2026

The tenth annual Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference takes place on December 7, 2026

The forests of the Pacific Northwest hold tremendous potential to store carbon, provide ecosystem services, support rural economies, and improve environmental justice outcomes. The Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference explores approaches to forest management that look beyond a single objective and recognize the complexity and interconnectedness of forest ecosystems and our relationships to them. Join us for a day of presentations, conversations, and bold ideas to envision a new approach to forest management in the Pacific Northwest that works for everyone.  

We look forward to welcoming partners, practitioners, policymakers, agency staff, landowners, Tribal government staff, wood supply chain companies, and community members interested in forest management and carbon sequestration. We hope to see you there!

Ticket Prices

General ticket: $250
Nonprofit, Public Sector, and Tribal Government ticket: $225
Student and Community Member ticket: $200

We welcome all to the conference and recognize that some individuals and organizations have varied abilities to pay. We encourage guests to purchase tickets at the level of ticket that matches their ability to pay.

The registration fee supports our speakers with a small honorarium and covers the cost of the venue. We acknowledge that not everyone is able to pay a fee, and will offer a limited number of complimentary tickets. If this applies to you, please email Halleli Zacher, Events and Outreach Manager, halleli@waconservationaction.org, for accommodation before registering.

Speakers

More information coming soon.

Agenda

More information coming soon.

Session Info

Fire and Carbon Management on Colville Tribal Lands
Cody Desautel, Collville Tribes Executive Director

Small Diameter Wood Utilization for Sustainability of Forest Health Restoration in Chelan County
Erin McKay, Chelan County Department of Natural Resources

Forest Carbon Offsets in Washington’s Cap-and-Invest Program: Progress To-Date
Jordan Wildish, Washington State Department of Ecology & John Nickerson, Dogwood Springs Forestry

Designing and Building with Forests in Mind
Andrew Ratzke, Timberlab & Scott Mooney, Bora Architecture

Field Notes from the First 100 Million Acres: Delivering Decision Support for Landscape-Scale Risk Assessment and Collaborative Management Planning
David Diaz, Vibrant Planet

Commissioner of Public Lands Updates and Priorities
Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, Washington State Department of Natural Resources

FAQ

Who should attend this conference?
 Practitioners, policymakers, decision-makers, landowners, civil society, wood supply chain companies, tribal governments, and community members whose work connects to forest management or carbon sequestration. Students and local or tribal community members interested in attending and learning more are also very welcome.

Which ticket option is the best fit for me?
 We want the conference to be welcoming to all. We recognize that individuals and organizations have varied abilities to pay, so we are offering tiered ticket pricing this year. The general ticket is for anyone who can purchase it at full price ($250). The Nonprofit, Public Sector, and Tribal Government ticket ($225) is for individuals who work for those organizations and governments that might need a reduced ticket price. The Student and Community Member ticket ($200) is for individuals with the highest barrier of cost who would still like to attend. We encourage guests to purchase tickets at the level that matches their ability to pay. 

Where is the conference located?
We are excited to return to the Cedarbrook Lodge. Cedarbrook Lodge is located 20 minutes south of downtown Seattle and close to SeaTac Airport.

Is Cedarbrook Lodge accessible by public transportation?
Cedarbrook is located 1.3 miles from the Angle Lake light rail station. Sound Transit Express 574 provides service within 2 blocks of Cedarbrook for South Sound residents.  

Is parking available nearby?
On-site parking for the conference is available for $15 per day.  

Is Cedarbrook Lodge ADA accessible?
Cedarbrook Lodge is ADA accessible, including the parking lot, restaurant, and all conference event spaces. More detailed accessibility information is available on Cedarbrook’s webpage. 

Can I stay at Cedarbrook Lodge?
Yes! There is a room block with a set rate for the conference. Use this link to book your room or go to www.cedarbrooklodge.com and use group code: 55779. Rooms must be booked by November 21. 

Who do I contact if I have any venue accessibility or accommodation needs?
Email Halleli Zacher at halleli@waconservationaction.org for accessibility information.   

Will food be provided?
Breakfast and lunch will be catered by Cedarbrook. Both meals are included with each registration. Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the conference in the Reflections Gallery immediately adjacent to Summit Hall.  

How large will the event be?
We are excited to host the conference in person once again! However, that means venue occupancy restrictions apply and we are limited to selling 140 tickets. We recommend buying your ticket early because we sell out every year.

I’m not seeing my registration confirmation email.
Check your email Spam/Junk folder. If you still can’t find your confirmation or access information, please email halleli@waconservationaction.org.

Will the presentations be recorded?
We are currently focused on providing the best in-person Carbon Conference experience. While we plan to record presentations for future use, we cannot commit to providing recordings at this time.  

What does the ticket revenue go toward?
 Your ticket revenue helps us cover basic operating costs, including use of the Cedarbrook Lodge venue and compensation for our conference speakers. If you would like to attend the conference but the cost is not within your means, please email Halleli Zacher at halleli@waconservationaction.org. 

Can I sponsor the conference?
 Yes! There are sponsorship opportunities available. Please email Tina Montgomery at  tina@waconservationaction.org for more details.   

Code of Conduct

We want all of our events to embody a safe and accepting environment for all attendees. We are committed to an enjoyable and inclusive experience for every guest.  

• Harassment of any kind, including stalking, deliberate intimidation, unwelcome physical attention, physical assault, and verbal harassment, will not be tolerated.  

• Discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, caregiver status, genetic information, veteran or military status, political ideology or affiliation, lawful union activity, or any other basis protected by applicable state, local, or federal law will not be tolerated.   

• Excessive consumption of alcohol and the use of illegal drugs are forbidden at all events. We reserve the right to require a venue to refuse serving alcohol to any attendee who, in our view, has consumed too much or is otherwise behaving inappropriately. Minors are prohibited from consuming alcohol at events. We encourage you to consume alcohol responsibly.   

• Harassment and discrimination are grounds for removal from the event and prohibition from future events and activities affiliated with our organization.   

• If you find yourself the target of harassment, discrimination, or experience problematic behavior, please report it to our staff, and we will address the situation.  

• If you witness inappropriate behavior, take action. Bystander engagement has proven to be one of the strongest deterrents to combat harassment and discrimination, including informing our staff during the event.  

If you experience problematic behavior or are made uncomfortable by the language, actions, or behaviors of attendees, volunteers, or staff, please bring this behavior to the attention of Halleli Zacher at halleli@waconservationaction.org.