to advance forest science, technology, practice, education, and a conservation ethic to benefit society

about the washington state society of american foresters

With nearly 750 members in 11 chapters (including three student chapters) throughout the state, the Washington Society of American Foresters is one of the largest state affiliates of the national Society. Foresters play a major role in managing Washington's 21 million acres of forest land. These forests provide a variety of benefits for Washingtonians and the nation in the form of wildlife, water, recreation, timber and other forest products.

Through their management of the 11 million acres of Washington's forest capable of growing commercial crops of timber, foresters help contribute to a significant proportion of Washington's rural economic base. Sixty-four percent of Washington's timberland is owned by the federal government and 36 percent by non-federal owners. Most federal timberland is now managed primarily for non-timber benefits with limited timber harvesting. Ninety-five percent of the state's timber harvest for the foreseeable future is expected to come from non-federal lands owned by wood products firms (22 percent), other private landowners (14 percent), and state and local governments (17 percent).

The forestry profession has adapted to changing priorities for Washington's forests. During the early days of economic and community development, the emphasis was on timber production. Today, foresters manage for a rich diversity of forest resources to achieve landowner objectives and meet society's needs and the needs of future generations.

The Washington State Society of American Foresters publishes the Western Forester in conjunction with the Oregon Society of American Foresters.

Download the WSSAF bylaws (pdf).

WSSAF 2008 Executive Committee

Chair: Zoanne Thomas
Chair-elect: Doug St. John
Immediate Past Chair: Doug Rushton
District Council 1: Kirk David
Secretary: Tom Hansen
Treasurer: Chuck Lorenz
Education Chair: John Bergvall
Science/Technology Chair: George McFadden
Membership Chair: Rob Sjogren
Foresters' Fund Chair: Joe Heller
CFE: Ellie Lathrop
Northwest Office: Lori Rasor
Policy Chair: John Ehrenreich
Historian/Tree Farm Liason: Don Theo
Delegate at Large : Bill Horn
Awards Chair: D Becker
WASAF Foundation Chair: Dave Yates
Webmaster: Leslie Battten
South Puget Chair: Tom Hansen
SW WA Chair: Jim Hotvedt
Evergreen Student Chair: No Info
Green River Student Chair: Adrian Patterson
UW Student Chair: Matt Weintraub
Admiralty Chair: Mike Cronin
Central WA Chair: Rod Pfeifle
Longview Chair: No Info
Mid Columbia Chair: No Info
North Olympic Chair: Martha Hurd
North Puget Chair: No Info

The Executive committee meets approximately six times per year to discuss SAF happenings at the State level. If any of you have questions, ideas, suggestions, events, or anything else that you want to discuss, please let your Chapter Chair know so that they can bring it forward.

We are also available to answer questions at any time. If you need something, please let us know: we are here to serve you!.