The Washington Sate Forest Practices Board recently established a group to "work on long-range plans to protect spotted owl habitat on private forest lands." According to the Capital Press, the group is a new path in the continuing spotted owl debate and promises to assist private landowners preserve both habitat and the economic vitality of their land.

With a mix of timber industry and conservationists, the group will be a boon to smaller private landowners "because one of the problems they face is that if they want to grow larger trees, there's always the fear that the owl will move in an they'll be subject to stricter logging regulations." Landowners will have at their hands the best available science and technical assistance providers that can help manage their forests for commercial purposes while monitoring and preserving owl habitat. The group offers a new dimension of service to landowners that previously had little input from governing agencies on bridging the gap between preservation and economic interests.

The group may also be an asset to non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners that play a critical role in habitat conservation. IWF has worked with NIPF landowners to prevent catastrophic forest fires by using sustainable forest thinning and restoration practices. Using conservation and preservation as tools for economic success means improving the economies of rural forest land communities.