The following is a press release from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

The King County Rural Forest Commission – a 13-member, volunteer advisory group appointed by the King County Executive – is actively recruiting three new members to guide policy and programs in the coming years. Applicants must be residents of King County who have a working knowledge of King County forestry and a strong commitment to conserving forestland in the county.

The Commission advises King County on long-term conservation of forest land and economic development considerations in rural forestry. The Commission represents an array of rural forest interests and we seek diverse applicants who may reflect and represent the spectrum of rural forestry stakeholders.

Specifically we are seeking applicants who represent the following interests:

· rural cities in King County (Black Diamond, Carnation, Duvall, Enumclaw, North Bend, Skykomish, Snoqualmie);

· residential forest landowners with greater than twenty acres of rural forest land enrolled in the Forest Land Designation program; and

· professional or academic foresters or forestry associations.

We also welcome applications from:

· residential forest landowners with less than twenty acres of forest land;

· forest landowners with greater than 40 acres of rural forest land in King County; and

· affected Tribes.

Commission members are asked to volunteer for a minimum term of three years. Duties include attending bi-monthly meetings from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Preston Community Center and occasional subcommittee meetings.

For more information or to request an application, contact Kathleen Farley Wolf at kfarleywolf@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4363; or visit kingcounty.gov/forestry and select “Rural Forest Commission.” Applications are due by July 15, 2018.