Natural Resource Lands

All local governments in Washington state need to determine where natural resource industries, including forestry, agricultural, mining, and fisheries industries, can productively operate. They must use land-use controls to designate and conserve the necessary lands and to avoid conflicts with these industries from other land uses.

Background

The goal is to conserve and protect natural resource production activities on these designated lands by avoiding interference from other incompatible land uses, such as residential housing. The requirement to classify, designate and protect natural resource lands (and critical areas) applies to all jurisdictions in the state, in recognition of the essential role of these lands in supporting economic productivity and healthy ecological systems.

Legal Basis

Commerce Resources

Additional Resources