SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8654

By Senators Oke, Sutherland, Metcalf, Skratek, Erwin, Amondson, Roach and Thorsness

      WHEREAS, The citizens of Washington state recognize many beneficial uses and values of our oak forests including wildlife, wood products, fuel wood, grazing, biological diversity, outdoor recreation, soil conservation, and aesthetics; and

      WHEREAS, Our rapidly dwindling oak forests are known to provide a habitat for over three hundred twenty-one species of wildlife throughout central and western Washington; and

      WHEREAS, Oak forest habitat provides for a great diversity and species richness of both flora and fauna; and

      WHEREAS, Oak forests, if properly managed, provide for economic benefits from fuel wood, wildlife harvest, and forest products for private and state forest owners and managers; and

      WHEREAS, Good multipurpose forest management shows that oak forest can be very beneficial for oak and conifer production; and

      WHEREAS, Oak forest/bunch grass range levels are known to create a high yield for livestock production in central Washington state; and

      WHEREAS, Oak forest lands are under increasing threat from suburban encroachment and unwise shortsighted forest practices; and

      WHEREAS, The state of Washington seeks an oak forest policy incorporating a strong conservation ethic in forest management decisions; and

      WHEREAS, Sound forest management practices include emphasis on multipurpose land management uses on state oak forest land;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Washington state natural resource agencies are encouraged and requested to cooperatively work together to develop an enlightened multipurpose oak forest management program designed to:

      (1) Recommend public policy and forest use regulations to the legislature that will promote good oak forest management practices to ensure long-term viability of our oak resources;

      (2) Provide land owners with information designed to increase commercial oak forest revenues;

      (3) Enhance wildlife habitat and maintain biological diversity in oak forest lands;

      (4) Develop educational programs to improve and enhance livestock grazing in the oak forest/bunch grass land of south central Washington;

      (5) Quantify the amount of oak forest that presently exists in Washington state;

      (6) Design management techniques that will help landowners develop reforestation and natural regeneration of their oak forest levels;

      (7) Initiate public education and information programs for landowners, recreational users, and school children about the many benefits of oak forests; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the policy of the state of Washington to manage our oak forest lands to provide for the long-term maximum beneficial multipurpose uses of these unique forests; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the objective of the state of Washington to ensure that oak forest lands and their ecological and economic functions are maintained and enhanced for future generations to use, enjoy, and profit from; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That 1991 be declared the Year of the Oak in the state of Washington.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8654,

adopted by the Senate April 17, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate