9:10 am – Extending Timber Harvest Rotations: Update on Carbon Storage Math and Supply Transition Scenarios 

Dr. Kate Anderson

Presentation Title – Extending Timber Harvest Rotations: Update on Carbon Storage Math and Supply Transition Scenarios

Presentation Abstract – Long rotations are a strategy that yields more carbon storage, more timber, and better habitat and water quality. On these points there is consensus. But just how much more carbon? What is the rotation age that yields the most carbon storage? And how can forest owners extend their rotations AND continue harvesting while their trees grow older? This presentation addresses these questions and discusses recent carbon modeling research.

Court Stanley 

Presentation Title – Financial Rationale for extended rotations on private forest land

Presentation Abstract – Forestland owners have the discretion on how to manage their operable ground on a rotation age that fulfills their economic and environmental goals. There is a perception that these goals are not aligned. This presentation will give economic justification for forestland owners an alternative that maintains an extended rotation harvest that provides both increased generational cash flow and provides habitat for management sensitive species as well as providing carbon sequestration and storage.

Dr. Paula Swedeen

Presentation Title – Pathways to Extend Harvest Rotations on DNR Managed Lands in Western Washington

Presentation Abstract – Presenting the results from a second-generation modeling exercise exploring ways to extend harvest rotations on lands that the Department of Natural Resources manages in western Washington primarily for timber production. This exercise is being conducted by Conservation Northwest, Washington Conservation Action, and Resilient Forestry. The objective of is to explore possible pathways to extend rotations (average age of harvest) without significant declines in timber volume.  

The largest obstacle to extending rotations is the fear that having to wait for forests to age will result in mill closures. In a previous exercise, our model showed that it was possible to extend rotations to an average of 80 years without causing a decline in volume over time by conducting significantly more thinning than DNR customarily conducts. The previous model used publicly available FIA data and coarse methods to approximate DNR’s Habitat Conservation Plan implementation. The model in our second iteration uses DNR’s own inventory data and the same constraints used in formulating the Sustainable Harvest Calculation within a linear optimization approach. This new version also demonstrates that DNR lands in western Washington can be managed to increase carbon storage and habitat complexity while maintaining current levels of timber output. This presentation will discuss carbon and volume outputs, cost to DNR, and potential avenues for implementation.

Space: The Summit Auditorium 

10:20 am – Impact Assessment on Forested Landscapes Panel – including:  

Dr. Colin Beier

Presentation Title – Mapping and Monitoring Forest Climate Benefits: The New York Forest Carbon Assessment

Presentation Abstract – New York’s forests are expected to play an essential role in attaining the 2050 ‘net-zero carbon’ economy, by offsetting 15% of statewide emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors while providing many other social and environmental benefits. Because most of New York’s forest land is privately owned in small non-industrial parcels, better data and tools are needed to design effective programs, engage with landowners, monitor and verify benefits, and support forest-based solutions across New York’s complex and changing landscape. The New York Forest Carbon Assessment developed a leading-edge system for mapping carbon stocks over time, estimating stock-changes at variable spatial and temporal scales, and translating stock-change maps into IPCC-compliant GHG inventory reporting. Map-based estimates of trends in carbon stocks provide estimates of net sequestration and emissions using an accounting workflow that also incorporates past and projected future land use change. The ability to geographically summarize and analyze these map products for any area of interest within NYS, such as by individual parcels or administrative units, undergirds a statewide forest carbon assessment with versatile end-uses and decision-support applications. 

Dr. David Diaz

Presentation Title – Impact Assessment Paradigms, Standards, and Innovations for High-Resolution Monitoring and Reporting of Working Forests Behind Wood Product Supply Chains.

Abstract – Evolutions in carbon markets, public policy, and corporate sustainability over the past few years have generated several different approaches for quantifying how forests change over time and identifying our impacts on them, with a particular emphasis on carbon. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the different impact accounting paradigms at play, prevailing and emerging standards, and the different use cases each of these approaches are intended to support. We will distinguish key principles, practices, and unresolved growth edges, following recent evolutions in consequential accounting as applied for carbon offsetting and in attributional accounting as applied for jurisdictional, corporate, and supply chain reporting. We will conclude with a focused look at innovations being pursued to increase visibility into forests with an emphasis on climate smart commodities and green building, including insights gleaned from 25 interviews of potential users for a new forest monitoring and reporting web application including the importance of non-carbon indicators needed to inform the variety of decision-makers interested in distinct but related aspects of forest management, conservation, and products.

Luke Rogers

Presentation Title – Forest Species and Structure Modeling for Carbon Trading and Monitoring

Presentation Abstract – Recent developments in utilizing Digital Aerial Photogrammetry (DAP) from National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) data to monitor forestlands shows promise for quantifying forest carbon on a biannual basis. The University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences’ (SEFS) ongoing work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help better understand eastern Washington forest conditions to prioritize forest restoration and promote climate resiliency has pioneered methods that could significantly reduce the cost and complexity of short-term carbon markets for Washington’s Small Forest Landowners. Researchers at SEFS will present on a two-year pilot project aimed at developing the methods, tools and data products needed to support a remote-sensing based carbon market for eligible small forestland owners, as well as a prototype web portal for tracking carbon stocks in Washington’s forestlands over time.

Space: The Summit Auditorium 

11:20 am – Up in Smoke? Stabilizing Carbon Storage in Fire Adapted Forests 

Dr. Katharyn Duffy

Presentation Title – Up in smoke? Stabilizing carbon storage in fire-adapted forests.

Presentation Abstract – Western mixed-conifer forests, shaped by fire for millennia, now face unprecedented threats from a century of fire suppression and intensifying climate change. These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage, but are increasingly vulnerable to loss as natural fire cycles are disrupted. To restore resilience, fuel reduction treatments have emerged as a promising solution, reducing fire severity and stabilizing carbon storage.

Fire will remain a dominant force in Western forest landscapes, but management action can still shape its behavior- and, in turn, its effects on these ecosystems. Recent research shows that fuel treatments reduced fire severity threefold, with larger treatments serving as crucial fuel breaks. Five years post intervention, treated areas experienced 60% less carbon loss during wildfire, and retained 50% more live carbon during extreme drought conditions.

This work challenges the notion that conservation and risk reduction are opposing goals. Mitigating the growing wildfire crisis will require that managers adopt landscape-scale, multi-stakeholder planning to restore resilience at scale. By proactively managing forest fuels, we can enhance carbon storage, and create landscapes which are more resilient to fire and climate extremes. The future of fire-adapted ecosystems depends on our ability to embrace this paradigm shift, moving from reactive to proactive strategies for long-term sustainability.

Space: The Summit Auditorium 

12:00 pm – Lunch 

Space: Tamarack Hall 

1:00 pm – Natural Climate Solutions Panel 

Presenters: Csenka Favorini-Csorba, Paul Jewell, Vera Pfeiffer, Steve Hinton

Paul Jewell

Presentation Abstract – Counties have legal obligations to plan for the impacts of climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of their comprehensive land use plans. Counties also have a significant interest in air quality, water supply, water quality, recreation opportunities, and the other ecosystem services that natural climate solutions can provide. This presentation will explore counties’ obligations to plan for certain environmental outcomes and resource protections and how natural climate solutions may play a role in meeting them.

Vera Pfeiffer

Presentation Abstract – The Washington Climate Partnership is a statewide effort to plan near- and long-term strategies to meet Washington’s ambitious climate goals for 2030 and beyond. This is a highly collaborative effort that will require engagement and input from impacted communities, tribes, businesses, workers, subject matter experts, and more. This planning effort includes the development of a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) for Washington State. The CCAP will analyze all significant sources and sinks of Greenhouse gasses in the state of Washington. A greenhouse gas source is something that emits greenhouse gases, and a greenhouse gas sink is a resource that absorbs or sequesters greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. The CCAP will establish strategies to achieve our statutory greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals across all sectors, culminating in a goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2050. In addition, the CCAP will include an updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory with more state-specific data and a current emissions profile, a benefits analysis for the state of Washington, a LIDAC benefits analysis, and workforce planning analysis. The CCAP will include an in-depth public engagement process, to ensure the CCAP is guided by the priorities and needs of Washington communities, particularly communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate pollution.

Space: The Summit Auditorium 

2:10 pm – Breakout Session 1. Sustainable Mass Timber: From Forestry & Fabrication to Data-Driven Design 

Jesce Walz & Hugh Grady

Presentation Title: Sustainable Mass Timber: From Forestry & Fabrication to Data-Driven Design

Abstract: In an era of increasing demand for sustainable building solutions, this presentation explores the lifecycle of mass timber through an integrated framework of responsible forestry, innovative manufacturing, and data-driven design. Our approach centers on:

• Implementing sustainable forestry practices that support forest health and ecological values
• Enhancing the mass timber supply chain through vertical integration to improve efficiency and ensure sustainability from forest to final product
• Advancing fabrication techniques and digital tools to reduce waste, increase material efficiency, and enhance design precision
• Analyzing the environmental benefits of mass timber as a carbon-sequestering material

By addressing each phase of mass timber’s journey from forest to construction, this session provides insights into building a sustainable future with wood.

Space: Cedar I 

2:10 pm – Breakout Session 2. Funding Conservation with Forest Carbon Projects  

Bettina von Hagen, Ian Sinks & Andrew Taylor

Presentation Title – Funding Conservation from Forest Carbon Projects

Presentation Abstract –The recent election put a spotlight on Washington’s compliance carbon market, Cap-and-Invest. Yet, through it all, the voluntary carbon market has continued to finance conservation outcomes in the state. For conservation organizations and other ecologically minded managers, what is the difference between compliance and voluntary markets? How can carbon projects finance conservation? 

This interactive session features a carbon project proponent, the Columbia Land Trust, and one of the largest carbon crediting programs in the United States, ACR, in a discussion about the latest developments in carbon markets, tradeoffs between voluntary and compliance projects, and opportunities for conservation organizations to achieve greater mission impact. 

The session will begin with an exploration of current best practices and market expectations for improved forest management projects, including setting conservative baselines to establish additionality. Next, a case study approach will highlight Columbia Land Trust’s work developing a carbon project that will fund new land acquisitions and conservation work. 

As carbon markets continue to evolve alongside new science, technologies and market expectations, this session will seek to inform participants about the conservation opportunity and work involved in developing high-integrity carbon projects.

Space: Cedar II 

3:30 pm – A New Paradigm for Utilizing Undervalued Species in Engineered Timber Homes 

Geoffrey Wood, Erik Poulin, & Malloree Weinheimer

Presentation Title – A New Paradigm for Utilizing Undervalued Species in Engineered Timber Homes

Presentation Abstract – Erik, Malloree and Geoffrey are part of a dedicated team that has partnered with the Makah Tribe to create a unique approach to Advanced Cross Laminated Timber (ACLT) engineered solid wood single family homes.  A factory has been built and is now operational in Port Angeles with a capacity of 100-150 homes per year.  The need for custom input dimensional lumber led to a partnership with the Makah Tribe that provided them with a sawmill to enable the move from only selling raw logs (which were reportedly primarily for concrete forming lumber) to provision of the lumber demands for CRTC.  We invested in thermal modification technology to stabilize the western hemlock against hygrothermal movement, and built in-house a custom ACLT press to manufacture the wall panels.  We engaged Chickadee Forestry early in the process to ensure sustainability and near 100% utilization of the timber.

Space: The Summit Auditorium