This time every year we worry about the approaching forest fire season and what can be done to reduce its impact. While some blame climate change for forest fires, there is a strong consensus that unhealthy forests – where fire has been removed but not replaced by thinning – are a major reason for recent increases in forest fires.

The question is how to return those forests to a healthier status, both to reduce the risk of fire and to create usable wildlife habitat.

Last year, highlighting the challenges the next Commissioner of Public Lands would face when dealing with unhealthy forests, I noted the only consistent source of revenue would come from sustainable timber harvesting. Writing in Crosscut, I noted, “Sustainable timber harvests can generate revenue to clean up nearby forests that need restoration.”

Nearly one year later, it is good to see there is bipartisan agreement that the revenue from forestry is the best long-term source of funding to reduce the risk of fire and improve habitat conditions. Lands Commissioner Franz noted recently that 2.7 million acres of state land is in poor health.

The new Lands Commissioner supported a bill sponsored by Rep. Joel Kretz to fund forest health projects and, importantly, a new account funded by revenue from the sales of timber from forest health projects. The need for this fund is obvious.

The Department of Natural Resources requested $30 million for forest health projects before the session began. They will likely get about half that amount, with the Senate offering $15 million and the House offering about $13. With so many budget pressures, there is very little chance legislators will find enough funding to make significant progress in restoring forest health.

The new legislation creates a Forest Health Revolving Account to earn up to $10 million that can be used for future forest health thinnings and harvests, with revenue from those harvests going back into the account. Many unhealthy forests don’t have high-value timber (hence the need for the initial funding from the legislature), so the account may not be able to fund itself in perpetuity. However, it applies a sustainable forestry and revenue model to a problem that needs a consistent source of revenue the legislature is unlikely to provide.

This is a promising approach. With so many agencies and priorities fighting over a limited budget, creating a business-related revenue stream to address forest health can help ensure this needed work continues into the future.