OLYMPIA, WA – (KGMI.com) Two parcels of land near Lake Whatcom and the Nooksack River are included in a new group of Washington forests that are set to be conserved.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz made the announcement Monday that proposes conservation efforts in 2,000 acres of land across five counties.

The proposal includes 575 acres southeast of Lake Whatcom that will be protected for the possible creation of a Natural Resources Conservation Area.

Another 75 acres will be conserved just south of the Middle Fork Nooksack River that is adjacent to other areas managed for critical wildlife conservation.

The state Department of Natural Resources worked with counties to choose land that was most valuable to protecting fish and wildlife habitat.

The proposed areas would join more than 900,000 acres of forestland that the DNR already manages for conservation in western Washington.

View the proposed areas of land to be conserved at Lake Whatcom here and at the Nooksack River here.