Center For Sustainable Economy

PROMOTING ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

FORESTS FOR CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY:THROUGH ITS FORESTS FOR CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM, CSE ADVOCATES FOR PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ALL NATIVE FOREST ECOSYSTEMS ON FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PUBLIC LANDS BECAUSE OF THEIR ROLE IN CAPTURING AND STORING CARBON, FILTERING CLEAN WATER, SUPPORTING OUTDOOR RECREATION, SUSTAINING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND SUPPLYING MANY OTHER ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES. ON PRIVATE LANDS, WE BELIEVE THAT STATE FOREST PRACTICES STATUTES AND RULES SHOULD CREATE THE ENABLING CONDITIONS FOR SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FORESTS THAT ARE PUT TO WORK EARNING LANDOWNERS MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS FROM WOOD PRODUCTS AND NON-TIMBER GOODS AND SERVICES BUT IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS PUBLIC TRUST RESOURCES INCLUDING SOIL PRODUCTIVITY, WATER, WILDLIFE, FISH AND A STABLE CLIMATE. KEY ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2023 INCLUDED:1.DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT A FOREST CARBON TAX AND REWARD PROGRAM AT THE STATE LEVEL.2.COMPLETING A PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLE ON HOW TO OPERATIONALIZE THE FOREST CARBON TAX AND REWARD CONCEPT.3.FILING LITIGATION CHALLENGING HARMFUL LOGGING OPERATIONS PROPOSED ON WASHINGTON STATE FORESTLANDS IN KING COUNTY.4.HOSTING THE FOREST CARBON COALITION, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR CLIMATE SMART FOREST PRACTICES.5.HOSTING TWO ONLINE EVENTS ADDRESSING THE IMPERATIVE OF ENROLLING FORESTS MORE DIRECTLY INTO THE NATIONS CLIMATE ACTION FRAMEWORK.

CLIMATE JUSTICE:TOGETHER WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, PEOPLE OF FAITH, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, LABOR ALLIES, AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, CSES CLIMATE JUSTICE PROGRAM IS TAKING ACTION AROUND THE URGENT MORAL IMPERATIVE OF RAPIDLY REDUCING OUR COLLECTIVE CARBON FOOTPRINT WHILE ENSURING OUR LAND USE IS SUSTAINABLE, WITH HIGH VALUE CARBON SINKS, SUCH AS OLD GROWTH FORESTS, BOLSTERED AND EXPANDED AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. KEY ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDED:1.WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH NON-PROFITS AND DECISION MAKERS TO ADVANCE FOSSIL FUEL RISK BOND POLICIES NOW IN PLACE IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON.2.WE COMPLETED A REPORT PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INTERESTED IN ADOPTING FOSSIL FUEL RISK BOND PROGRAMS IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

GREEN INFASTRUCTURE:INVESTMENTS IN SO CALLED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS WETLAND RESTORATION OR AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ARE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED AS COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OUTCOMES RELATIVE TO INVESTMENTS IN GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WATER FILTRATION PLANTS. TO ADVANCE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS, CSE MONITORS LAND USE DECISIONS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS AND ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS IN SITE DESIGNS. KEY ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDED:1.WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH PARTNERS TO DEVISE A NATIONAL AND/OR STATEWIDE NO-NET-LOSS COMPENSATORY MITIGATION PROGRAM FOR FORESTS AND FARMLAND.2.MONITORING AND COMMENTING ON SEVERAL LAND USE DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT DEFORESTATION OR LOSS OF FARMLAND.