When a large, ecologically sensitive legacy forest in the heart of the Elwha River Watershed was identified for harvest, the Earth Law Center, Keystone Species Alliance, and Center for Whale Research began using all legal means possible against the Washington State Department of Natural Resources in an attempt to halt the impending clear-cut. Through breathtaking cinematography and intimate interviews, witness the profound beauty and ecological significance of the watershed, as well as the dire consequences of unchecked deforestation.

You can view the film for free on ELC’s YouTube channel.

We're excited to announce a big win: as of December 2023, we stopped the "Power Plant" timber sale in Washington State!

Through a combination of community organizing, political pressure, and filing a court action with co-plaintiffs Keystone Species Alliance and the Center for Whale Research, we stopped the entire 150-acre sale (almost unheard of for an already-sold tract) and won permanent protection for 69 acres of critical legacy forest within the iconic Elwha River Watershed.

Read this Seattle Times article about this move from Washington State.

To support our legal team working to protect these forests, donate immediately at the button below.

Elizabeth Dunne, Esq., Director of Legal Advocacy, Earth Law Center

“As the Elwha River comes back to life post-dam removal, it is a source of hope for many - not only in Washington, but around the world – that dismantling structures of colonization can lead to a more balanced relationship with Nature, rooted in reciprocity rather than resource extraction. People are shocked to learn that extractive logging continues in this beloved river valley”, said Elizabeth Dunne, Port Angeles resident and Director of Legal Advocacy at the Earth Law Center. “There are certainly pathways to replacing the revenue counties get from harvesting these forests. We need Commissioner Franz to step up and pause this logging while we work toward solutions.”

(Credit: © Photos by forest2sea.com).

Elwha Legacy Forests

The Elwha River remains the site of the biggest dam removal and river restoration in history, with the Federal Government spending over $327 million on restoration of the Elwha Watershed post dam-removal. Yet, older, structurally complex, naturally regenerated, and uniquely carbon-dense forests, termed “legacy forests” on state [Washington Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”)] managed forest lands in the Elwha River Watershed are at imminent risk of being logged. There are over 3,000 acres of unprotected legacy forests in, and contiguous to, the Elwha River Watershed, with approximately 850 in the watershed itself. In 2023-2024, there are over 200 acres of legacy forests in the Elwha River Watershed slated for logging.

The Elwha legacy forests tell an interconnected story. Forest health is tied to the health of endangered species like Chinook Salmon, and in turn, the Southern Resident Orcas. The surrounding forests also play a crucial role in protecting the water quality. The trees act as natural filters, removing pollutants and contaminants and help prevent soil erosion and sedimentation. Additionally, the root systems of trees in legacy forests help to regulate water flow and reduce the risk of flooding. The Elwha River also supplies Port Angeles' sole source of drinking water and along its banks are many culturally significant sites for the lower Elwha Klallam people.

A critical goal is to protect the Elwha River Watershed’s last remaining legacy forests for their intrinsic value along with drinking water security, climate adaptation benefits, carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity preservation, and critical habitat, using innovative frameworks for local stewardship.

We have immediate focus on two unique forests -- with the sale names “TCB23” and “Power Plant” -- slated to be auctioned by the WA Department of Natural Resources in July, 2023.

Earth Law Center’s Director of Legal Advocacy lives in the Elwha River Watershed and ELC is a founding member of the community group Elwha Legacy Forests.

Please visit the Elwha Legacy Forest website for photos, maps, drone footage, and to take action!

Background

We have been working diligently to educate the public about mature, structurally complex forests, which many refer to as “legacy forests.” Their relatives were logged in the late 1800s and early 1900s and new trees were left to regenerate on their own, naturally. These forests are important because they preserve the genetic, biological, and ecological ‘legacies’ of the natural lowland forests that once dominated Western Washington. One of these critical older forests in the Elwha River Watershed called the “Aldwell” was identified to be logged last year.

Thankfully, in September 2022, due in large part to our advocacy, the City of Port Angeles unanimously voted to request that the State halt logging of a critical older forest in the Elwha River Watershed called “Aldwell”. We then co-hosted a community hike to visit the forest and educate the public about mature, structurally complex forests.

Despite the City’s request and significant public outcry, the State proceeded with the logging.

Ecocentric

Ecocentric refers to a nature-centered, rather than human-centered (Anthropocentric), approach. An ecocentric society is one in which humans conduct themselves in a way that allows them to de-center themselves and live in harmony with nature, while keeping our society from exceeding its planetary boundaries. Earth law is an emerging form of ecocentric law, meaning that it diverges from the status quo human-centered and corporation-centered laws that currently govern much of the world.

At it’s core, the legal effort to keep the “Power Plant” timber sale off of the auction block is ecocentric. This case aims to protect nature by preventing its exploitation for anthropogenic interests. We are fighting to preserve the Elwha watershed and all of its natural elements for not just the human communities that rely on it, but also the numerous vulnerable and endangered species that are counting on the Elwha. An ecocentric worldview emphasizes our responsiblity to protect these legacy forests and by extension, their surrounding ecosystems.

The Legacy Forest Movement

A number of cases have been filed to protect legacy forests across the state. While our goal is to develop a statewide policy for Washington, and even one for the United States, we have no choice but to bring these cases in the near-term.

The legacy movement began when activist Steven Kropp did everything in his power to stop the logging of Chameleon in 2019. Losing the forest resulted in the formation of the “Center for Responsible Forestry” now active throughout Washington State. CRF’s wins include Smuggler, Upper Rutsatz and Bessie.

Momentum continues to grow because of public engagement and legal successes: In a case to prevent the “Brokedown Palace” sale, advocates secured a delay until December 2023. In the case of “Goodman 1” and “Taylor Downhill Sort” the judge ordered  DNR to redo their analysis in October 2022 thereby delaying this logging. In addition to our own case this month, the Center for Sustainable Economy and Save the Olympic Peninsula also filed a Notice of Appeal to halt the “Wishbone” timber sale scheduled for July 25, 2023. 

These cases are more than just one-off fights– they are building a movement to protect hundreds of acres of legacy forests, some over 100 years old. 

A lawsuit filed by Conservation Northwest further challenged the idea that the state was “required” to log these forests. In yet another win, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that DNR can integrate the many, diverse public benefits of forests into their decision making, rather than just making decisions that maximize revenue generation from timber sales. ELC’s Director of Legal Advocacy Elizabeth Dunne submitted an Amicus Brief that contributed to this monumental decision. Read it here.

(Credit: © Photos by forest2sea.com).

On March 5, 2023, Earth Law Center co-sponsored a rally to raise awareness about the State’s decision to defy the City’s request. Over a hundred community members, largely from Port Angeles, lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S’klallam Tribe, Lummi Nation, and surrounding areas in the Olympic Peninsula, joined together in a peaceful rally.

Photos and videos available HERE.

Read out report on the significance & status of Pacific Northwest Forests HERE.

Unfortunately, even this was not enough, and the Aldwell was fully logged (166 acres).

Since that time, we have been urgently working with the community and local government leaders on means to stop industrial logging on State lands in the Elwha River Watershed.

Key Components

Key components of the project are:

• obtaining a commitment to pause or stop the logging of Elwha legacy forests through securing funds, strategic litigation, and otherwise;

• working with multiple stakeholders to develop an Elwha legacy forests stewardship plan;

• working with partners to conduct any necessary ecological assessments and studies and to undertake any additional GIS mapping work;

• exploring alternative means of replacing revenue from timber harvests (including state funds and philanthropic donations) and of generating revenue from protected forest lands; and

• developing an innovative community forest stewardship model by integrating Indigenous ancestral knowledge and centering the health of the Watershed as intrinsically linked to human health and well-being.

(Credit: © Photos by forest2sea.com).

Due to the imminent threat of logging, we are prioritizing pathways that would protect Elwha legacy forests in the near term, particularly “Power Plant” and “TCB23”, namely securing funds to replace the revenue that would otherwise come from timber harvests. The amount needed for “Power Plant” and “TCB23” is approximately $500,000.

(Credit: © Photos by forest2sea.com).

Climate Impact & Scalability

These forests are an existing natural climate solution, irreplaceable in the time frame in which we need to act to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

There are thousands more acres of unprotected legacy forests (over 20,000) outside the Elwha River Watershed throughout Clallam County, and approximately 77,000 acres in Western Washington.

If all 77,000 acres of these legacy forests are clear-cut as planned, it is estimated that over 31 million metric tons of CO2 will be emitted just in the course of harvest and manufacturing. That is one half of Washington’s 2030 emissions reduction target. Many communities are looking for alternative models and it is anticipated that the Elwha legacy forests’ model would be of great interest throughout Washington counties with old-growth and legacy forests, resulting in lasting protections for thousands of acres of these irreplaceable forests.

(Credit: © Photos by forest2sea.com).

Notable Quotes Given in Support of the Campaign to Protect Elwha Legacy Forests

Honorable Paulette Jordan (Coeur d’Alene), Native American Politician and Business Woman, who served in Idaho House of Representatives and ran for Idaho Governor and US Senate

The Honorable Paulette Jordan shared: “As Indigenous Peoples - stewards of the lands and rivers here since time immemorial – we know that all life is interconnected. A river needs a healthy forest, and salmon need a healthy river. As Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum or ‘Salmon People’, we know that our own well-being is inseparable from healthy ecosystems. This is why you see First Nations in BC creating ‘salmon parks’ to protect critical forests in watersheds. We need visionary leadership who will respect our knowledge and see that protecting our legacy forests is an investment that will sustain present and future generations mentally, physically, spiritually, and economically.”

Suzanne Simard, bestselling author of Finding the Mother Tree

“The world is relying on us to protect the forests of the Pacific Rim because of their crucial role in stabilizing climate, supporting biodiversity and maintaining hydrologic integrity. Clearcutting the precious Elwha forests for short-term profits would be a massive blow to the health of current and future generations. We need birds singing, salmon spawning, and food growing more than money in the pockets of a few. The Elwha forests are worth more standing.”

Navarra Carr, Port Angeles City Councilmember

"The Aldwell legacy forest is a critical part of the tributaries on the Elwha River. Legacy forests, like Aldwell, not only provide biodiversity, recreation opportunities, and aid in reducing climate impacts in our community, but also protect the water supply for every resident and visitor in Port Angeles”, said Port Angeles City Councilmember Navarra Carr. “Our city's water supply is solely supplied by the Elwha, and negative impacts to the larger Elwha ecosystem affect our water citywide. We already experience drought conditions each year and logging these important forests will likely worsen the already existing challenges we are facing. Logging the Aldwell legacy forest will lead to the permanent destruction of a valuable forest on the Olympic Peninsula," Carr explained.

La Trisha Suggs (Jamestown S’klallam tribal member), Port Angeles City Councilmember

"Trees, they are our sisters, they are our brothers, they are a part of us. These trees around us are a part of who we are. They're a part of our community. Those legacy forests and the creatures that need those are relying on those legacy forests. This is about legacy forests and this is not about stopping all timber harvests because we know timber families need the jobs. And we support those timber families."

Paul Stamets, D.Sc. (Honaris Causa), Invention Ambassador for the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Member, Mycological Society of America & North American Mycological Association

"Our old growth forests are undervalued – we should not be deceived that short term gains in selling lumber accurately reflects the value of the intact biodiversity resident within these ancient stands. In particular, varieties of Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis aka Laricifomes officinalis) are now known to have potent antiviral properties. But not all of them. We are still deep in investigating the anti-flu, anti-herpes, and anti-pox viral properties of this mushroom, which many mycologists describe as the longest living, if not the longest living mushroom in Western North America. Without these old growth forests, this mushroom species is absent. I strongly urge that old growth forest reserves hosting these rare mushrooms be spared --- or at least considered -- for their contributions to future medicine. Once we lose these libraries, we may lose remedies for protecting ourselves from pandemics, which most scientists agree, will be coming with increasing frequency and severity. Our old growth forests are critical, in my opinion, for our national defense."