(1) The institute of forest resources shall pursue coordinated research and education related to the forest sector and its multiple components, including:

(a) Forest conservation, restoration, sustainable management, and utilization;

(b) The evaluation of the economic, ecological, and societal value of forestland in both the rural and urban environment;

(c) The manufacture and marketing of forest products, including timber products, nontimber products, environmental services, and the provision of recreation and aesthetic values.

(2) The institute of forest resources must seek to provide a framework for identifying, prioritizing, funding, and conducting interdisciplinary research critical to the forest sector and the development of integrated, synthesized information and decision support tools that improve the understanding of complex forestry issues for stakeholders, policymakers, and other interested parties.

(3) In pursuit of these objectives, the institute of forest resources is authorized to cooperate, when cooperation advances the objectives listed in this section, with other entities, including but not limited to:

(a) Universities;

(b) State and federal agencies;

(c) Conservation and environmental organizations;

(d) *Community and urban forestry organizations; and

(e) Domestic or foreign industrial and business institutions.

*Reviser’s note: Chapter 209, Laws of 2021 changed the name of the program in chapter 76.15 RCW from “community and urban forestry” to “urban forest management plan.”

Findings—Intent—2011 c 187: See note following RCW 76.44.020.

Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.