Forests
We believe healthy, resilient forests support thriving communities.
That’s why we partner with rural & indigenous communities to develop locally-led solutions that advance forest health and resilience.
We see an opportunity to greatly increase the pace and scale of forest conservation and restoration in the Pacific Northwest.
HERE’S WHAT WE’RE DOING ABOUT IT:
COMMUNITY-LED FOREST CONSERVATION
Our community forest initiative brings community partners into conversation about ways to manage forests for local benefits.
Community forests are a nature-based solution that allows communities to lead. They can be managed for multiple benefits, which may include:
Drinking water.
Wildlife habitat.
Timber harvest.
Wildfire resilience.
Recreation and more.
LIVING WITH FIRE
Pacific Northwest forests evolved with fire. In these “fire-dependent ecosystems,” some fires naturally occurred, and some were sparked by Indigenous Peoples stewarding healthy forest conditions.
Now, the region is experiencing severe wildfires more frequently due to unhealthy forest conditions, a warming climate, and years of suppressing beneficial fire, so we are working with partners to:
Improve forest health and landscape resilience to reduce wildfire severity.
Prepare communities on the frontlines of wildfire.
Support recovery efforts after large wildfires.
Prepare forests to accept beneficial fire back to the landscape.
STRATEGIC LANDSCAPES
We are working with all stakeholders in the region including Tribes, businesses, community groups, private landowners, and state, county, and municipal agencies to greatly increase the pace and scale of forest health restoration in Central Washington.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
We are working with all landowners in the basin – including the Klamath Tribes, private forest companies, and the national forest – to find the best approaches to forest management that work for nature, people, and local economies.
KLAMATH BASIN
9
Collaboratives or coalitions supporting forest health that we launched, lead, or directly support.
4 Million
Board feet of Western Juniper wood products produced annually
49
Community forests we support through the Northwest Community Forests Coalition.
“I support Sustainable Northwest because its professionals develop innovative strategies to solve problems in ways that benefit both people and the environment in the Pacific Northwest.
In today's fractious world, it is refreshing to find an organization like Sustainable Northwest that works on finding environmental solutions that help people achieve their goals.”
- Dr. Norm Johnson, former Sustainable Northwest board member and professor emeritus at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry.
