State of Our Forests & Public Lands Report

Since 2015, Washington Conservation Action and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund have published an annual State of our Forests and Public Lands report scoring the Commissioner of Public Lands and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

It is our responsibility to keep the public informed on how well elected officials are protecting the environment and addressing the climate crisis. The Commissioner of Public Lands leads DNR and is the only elected statewide position that works almost exclusively with our natural resources, making it one of the most important positions for Washington’s environment.

Together with WCA Ed Fund, we reviewed the past year of Commissioner Franz and DNR’s work to determine where there have been successes and where more work is needed.

As we prepare for a transition to a new Commissioner of Public Lands in January 2024, this year’s report looks toward the future. The report emphasizes the opportunities for the next CPL and sets forth a vision for how the next CPL can promote management of our state’s natural resources for the benefit of all Washingtonians.