The Northwest Community Forest Coalition’s recent spring quarterly meeting was held in Wenatchee, Washington. This 3,714 acre property, previously owned and managed by Weyerhaeuser, officially came into Chelan County ownership as a community forest in spring 2022.

Trust for Public Land partnered with the City of Ilwaco to purchase 380 forested acres within its local watershed to establish the Bear Ridge Community Forest.

A community forest evokes partnership, collaboration, and innovation. A community forest is born out of the needs of residents, designed by the surrounding landowners, organizations, and residents. Among the many benefits these forests provide, they are an economic driver, an access point for nature, an acknowledgement of history, or a resource for education.

A group of our coalition’s membership spent their day visiting Mt. Adams Community Forest and neighboring properties. The trip provided a great opportunity to see and learn about some of the management techniques being implemented by Mt. Adams Resource Stewarts, and how the community forest has grown effectively and organically.