Re as in Western Washington Study Area and Methods

Between 1990 and 2000, nonfederol timberland orem in wegem Washington declined by 5%, in tontrml to a 3% reduciion for the 1980-90 period. Most of this reduction is attributed to the conversion of timberland io ofher lond uses, especially urban and other developed uses. In areas such os the Puget Sound region, population densities hove more than doubled over the lmt 40 yeon. Further expansion in urban and developed areas is expected, with timberland o mojor source for development. We project an 8% reduction over 30 yeon in fwertlond area in western Washington. At the m e time, urbon rind oiher developed areas ore projected to roughly double, driven by increuses in and personal income levels. Increased demand for land for residential and other developed uses puts upwurd pressure on lond volues, increasing opportunity cast of retaining lond in forests and raising the question of what will become of some forests and aaotiated farest resources, such m woter and wildlife, if forest owners find if too costly to rnmoje the forest.