Bremerton, August 12, 2009 -- More than 2,100 acres of commercial forestland in the Hood Canal Watershed will be permanently protected from residential development through the cooperation of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Pope Resources and the Cascade Land Conservancy.

DNR has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire a Forest Legacy Conservation Easement from Pope Resources on Kitsap and Mason County forestland, creating a contiguous block of working forest between the Green Mountain and Tahuya State Forests to the north and south and backing up to the Bremerton watershed to the east.

Cascade Land Conservancy worked with DNR and the Washington congressional delegation to secure the Federal Forest Legacy grant. DNR will use the grant money to purchase the Conservation Easement from Pope Resources for approximately $3.3 million. Working together, all three organizations have collaborated to facilitate the transaction and develop the terms of the easement, ensuring working forest lands and habitat for wildlife.

The Forest Legacy program is a nationwide program designed to prevent the conversion of working forests to non-forest uses, such as conversion to residential lots. In Washington State, the program’s focus includes retention of forest management opportunities, preservation of wildlife habitat, and protection of water quality. The Legacy program in Washington State is one of the most active in the nation, counting over 31,700 acres of forest land protected from future conversion to other uses.

“Cascade Land Conservancy is a national pioneer in the conservation of working forests working with progressive organizations like Pope Resources and the Washington Department of Natural Resources,” said Gene Duvernoy, President, Cascade Land Conservancy. “We know that when conservation makes economic sense, we are able to save more critical landscapes and make sure that they stay conserved over the long-run. Hood Canal is a regional icon and a national treasure. It will have a stronger future because of the conservation of these 2,100 acres of working lands today and the redoubling of our work to conserve
the surrounding working forestland in the years ahead.”

David Nunes, president and CEO of Pope Resources, added “This project is a great example of partnering with conservation and government to deliver the potential value of development to our unitholders without having to disturb a landscape that has traditionally been utilized for growing trees. We are pleased to see these lands remain as working forest and look forward to working with the Cascade Land Conservancy and the Washington Department of Natural Resources again in the future.”

“This project puts a solution into action that will protect working forestland from conversion. It also puts DNR in a better position to continue managing nearby state lands for trust revenue, wildlife habitat, recreation, and to provide clean water,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, who leads DNR.

This project is one of the five successful Forest Legacy projects Cascade Land Conservancy has recently undertaken in partnership with DNR – in Hood Canal, Yakima River, the Skykomish River, Green River, and Carbon River areas. CLC and DNR will continue collaborating on additional Forest Legacy projects in the future.