Across the Region

Read the document below to better understand some issues that have gone into the development of community forests previously.

Needs and Resources for Creating and Managing Community Forests (PDF)

Located in Douglas County, OR, the Alder Creek Community Forest is an outdoor educational center for youth and adults alike.

Visit the website at this link or read the forest stewardship plan at the link below.

The Alvord Lake Community Forest covers a 142-acre parcel along Alvord Lake’s southeast lakeshore. This property is directly east of the Kootenai National Forest in Montana.

Visit the website at the link below.

The Arch Cape Forest was acquired in 2022 with the intention of managing 1,441-acres of forest land to provide high quality drinking water to the Arch Cape Community.

Visit the website at this link or read the Multi-Resource Management Plan at the link below.

The City of Anacortes owns over 2,950 acres of forest land within the city limits, comprising the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. The forest provides education benefits to community while ensuring ACFL remains a healthy forest.

View the 2021 management plan below.

The City of Ilwaco, WA acquired in fee ownership 380-acres of it’s watershed to utilize as a community forest. This property will prioritize water quality and recreational benefits within the management approach.

Visit the City of Ilwaco’s website below for updates on the forest.

The Town of Butte Falls manages a 440 acre community forest to mitigate wildfire; preserve drinking water, fish, and wildlife; and to promote economic development, recreation, tourism, and natural resources education.

View the Community Forest Plan below

Canyon Lake Community Forest is a 2,200-acre nature preserve, protection a section of old-growth forest in Whatcom County and providing a space for recreation and public access.

Visit the Whatcom County Page to learn more about the Canyon Lake Community Forest.

Chimacum Ridge is a 853 acre community forest being acquired by Jefferson Land Trust. Chimacum Ridge will vital be a source of healthy water for migratory salmon, healthy forest for community access, and forested wetland habitat for vulnerable species.

The Eagle Creek Community forest is a 318-acre community forest located in rural Clackamas County. Managed by the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Eagle Creek has developed a management plan which incorporates local, sustainable natural resource management. You can read the full management plan linked below.

The Forest Hill Community Forest is a property managed by the Oregon Coast Community Forest Association (OCCFA). The property is managed to be an educational resource while implementing ecologically sensitive forestry practices.

See the OCCFA strategic priorities below.

Managed by Chewelah Valley Land Trust, the Gold Hill Community Forest is a 400 acre property created to ensure recreational opportunities for the local community alongside ensuring habitat connectivity with the Colville National Forest.

Learn More about the property below.

The Headwaters Community Forest is a 400 acre property managed by the North Coast Land Conservancy as a part of the greater Rainforest Reserve, a 3,500 acre property along helping protect 32 square miles of contiguous conservation property on the Oregon Coast.

The Hoquiam Community Forest is a proposed 400 acre forest in Hoquiam, WA. The properties within the Hoquiam Community Forest make up forested areas around Little Hoquiam River and Fry Creek. This forest has the goal of protecting riparian habitat for salmonid species and providing recreational access for Hoquiam Residents.

The Indian Creek Community Forest is a 410 acre property, managed by the Kalispel Indian Tribe.

With a native plant nursery, educational forest, walking trails, and a fishing pond, the Indian Creek Community Forest (ICCF) is a resource, not just for the Kalispel Tribe, but for the entirety of the surrounding communities.

The Klickitat Canyon Community Forest is a 2,405 acre community forest, established through the Washington Community Forest Trust Program.

The management goals include: healthy forest stands, fish and wildlife protections, cultural resource safeguards, access for recreation and community connections.

Read more about the management below.

Lagoon Point Community Forest is a proposed community forest on Whidbey Island in Washington. The property would prevent the fragmentation of 280 acres of intact forest habitat on the island.

Visit the Whidbey Camano Land Trust to Learn More about this project.

The Montesano City Forest is a 5,400 acre forest property that is managed by the City for a balance of long term sustainability and a healthy environment, among broad priorities.

Read about the acquisition process and multiple iterations of management approaches for the forest here, and view the current management plan below.

The Mt. Adams Community Forest, outside of Glenwood WA, is made up of multiple smaller forest parcels compiling over 1,000 total acres. In connection with the Conboy National Wildlife Refuge, the property, managed by Mount Adams Resource Stewards , is part of nearly 8,000 acres of property in conservation.

The Nason Ridge Community Forest is a 3,714 acre property in Chelan County, Washington. The property was initially acquired to by Western Rivers Conservancy to reduce to save it from potential development.

You can view the acquisition story here and read the current management plan below.

Newberry Woods Community Forest, is a 202-acre property of Great Peninsula Land Trust, acquired in October of 2022 with the intention of protecting a vital wildlife corridor adjacent to the Hood Canal.

Learn more about the future of the preserve at the link below.

The Nisqually Community Forest maintains a goal of acquiring 20,000 - 30,000 acres of private forest lands in the foothills of Mount Rainier. Developed with the support of the Nisqually Tribe, the Nisqually Land Trust is currently managing this 4,210 acre property.

Learn more about the Nisqually Community Forest

Pine Street Woods is a 180-acre community forest located in Sandpoint Idaho. The property is owned and managed by Kaniksu Land Trust, and has been designed to be an outlet for community recreation and access for local residents.

Learn more about Pine Street at the link below.

This 7,500 acre community forest in Klamath Falls, OR is working to balance recreational activity with ongoing ecological forest management, aiming to ensure the area is able to serve as a recreational resource for the community, while providing vital forest habitat to the landscape of Southern OR.

The Stemilt-Squilchuck Community Forest, lead through the Stemilt Partnership is a 3,388 acre community forest in the central-east Cascade Mountains within Chelan County.

This property is the first community forest managed by Chelan County, and focuses on maintaining a diverse forest composition. Learn more about the forest management plan below.

The Stewart Mountain Community Forest is a 5,500-acre property acquisition which maintains the goal of local forestland ownership and management for community benefit. This process is being led by the Whatcom Land Trust.

Visit the website to learn more or watch a video on the project, available at the link below.

The Teanaway Community Forest is a 50,241 acre community forest, developed through the Washington Community Forest Trust Program, and under provision of the Yakima Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (YBIP).

You can learn more about the site and it’s various partnerships, linked here, and view the management plan at the link below.

Managed by Whidbey Camano Land Trust, the Trillium Community Forest is a 721-acre forest preserve within Whidbey Island. The property was acquired when faced with potential conversion to housing developments.

Read more about the efforts that went into the Trillium Community Forest Below.

The Usal Community Forest is a 50,000 acre community forest in Mendocino County, California.

The property, managed by the Redwood Forestry Foundation, maintains the goal of sustainably harvesting timber to benefit the local economy, while restoring and maintaining habitats for fish and wildlife.

The 1820-acre East Moraine Community Forest in Wallowa County was thoughtfully developed over a decade of work, fundraising, and partnership.

Acquired with the intention of retaining natural, healthy and ecologically sustainable range and forest habitats along Wallowa Lake, this property is a testament to partnership and collaboration.

Read the full East Moraine Community Forest Management Plan below.

The Weaverville Community Forest is a 14,963-acre community forest in Trinity county, California. This property is operating under a cooperative acreement which includes the Trinity County Resource Conservation District and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure local management of this publicly held community forest is possible.

Learn more through the Weaverville Community Forest Strategic Plan below.

Acquiring and Managing a Community-Owned Forest: A Manual for Communities (PDF)

Comparison of Two Forest Certification Systems and Oregon Legal Requirements (PDF)

Community Forest Governance Matrix, Prepared by Sustainable Northwest