Highlights
• Conservation of old growth and late successional forests that support habitat for threatened and
endangered species
• The property is now included in the Mt. Si Natural Resources Conservation Area

KING COUNTY, WA – Forterra, a Washington based non-profit land trust, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have teamed up to conserve 40 acres of critical old-growth forest habitat in the Central Cascades along Hancock Creek and forever protect it as part of the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area.

Forterra donated the parcel to DNR after it acquired 30 acres of timber rights to fully protect the property. The donation, completed this month, will protect a property with old-growth and late successional forests that support threatened and endangered species, such as the marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl.

“This donation represents one more step in the important work of preventing deforestation and protecting critical fish and wildlife habitat in the Snoqualmie River watershed,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “I want to express my gratitude to Forterra and the Cugini family for their work to forever protect this iconic stand of cedars for generations to come.”

“This project represents an important advancement of the continued partnership between Forterra and DNR to protect private holdings within priority conservation areas,” said Michael Storace, Project Manager for Conservation Transactions with Forterra.

The acquisition and donation of this property is the latest part of Forterra’s Hancock Creek initiative. The multi-phase conservation program is part of a longstanding partnership with the Cugini family to protect their remaining forestlands. The Hancock Creek property still contains 80 acres of unprotected timber rights yet to be conserved.

CONTACTS

Heidi Taffera
Managing Director of External Relations, Forterra
htaffera@forterra.org
425-269-9981

Kenny Ocker
Communications Manager
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
kenny.ocker@dnr.wa.gov
360-810-1217

ABOUT FORTERRA
Forterra is an unconventional land trust that works across Washington’s communities and landscapes, from the ranches and shrub-steppe of the Yakima basin, to the estuaries, farms and forests of Washington’s coast, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, towns and rural communities. Working cooperatively with people and nature, Forterra drives land stewardship, management and planning; innovative programs and policies; farming and forestry approaches; community ownership opportunities; and development solutions. To learn more about Forterra’s conservation efforts, visit forterra.org.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR manages more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, conservation, and aquatic lands. Of these, more than half are held in trust to produce income to support public schools and other essential services. State trust lands managed by DNR provide other public benefits, including outdoor recreation, habitat for native fish and wildlife, and watersheds for clean water.