Southwest WA forest owners can protect land’s health, value with online WSU Coached Planning Course

Course participants look on in an in-woods visit, as an instructor shows a trunk section.
Coached planning course participants learn about forest health in a past event. An online version of Extension’s popular series begins this winter for southwest Washington residents.

WSU Extension Foresters will help forest owners in southwest Washington learn how to plan, protect, and gain value from their lands, in an upcoming, online Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Course.

Starting Jan. 27, 2021, this nine-week online course teaches landowners to understand the forest in their own backyard, and create detailed forest stewardship plans that may help them qualify for property tax reductions or conservation grants. It is designed for forest owners in Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

Owners value their forest land for many reasons, including natural beauty, wildlife, ecosystem health, harvest income, family ties, and peace and quiet. Extension Coached Planning courses help owners plan and manage their forests to achieve their goals.

The course includes live webinars taught by the state’s recognized experts; a digital library of reference materials and how-to guides; a copy of the book “Native Trees of Western Washington”; and a consultation site visit to your property from a state service forester. The course is held 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday evenings, through March 17 (except for the first evening, which ends at 9:30 p.m.)

Cost is $60. Space is limited and is first-come, first-served.

Register at the course’s Eventbrite site.