Rivers flow west from iconic Cascade peaks, providing world-class habitat, drinking water, and recreation. Verdant forests support wildlife and forestry. Forest parcelization threatens both wildlife & local forestry economy. Climate change influences river flows & water temperatures. Moving forward, Columbia Land Trust will form coalitions to support sustainable, community-based forestry; collaborate with public landholders, & conserve landscapes that offer climate resilience for imperiled species.
Regional Objectives
ENSURE large swaths of both public and privately owned forestland are intact and functional, connecting habitat for migratory species.
HALT the net loss of older forests and increase the number of forested acres managed toward old-growth forest habitat.
PROTECT important rivers for salmon and steelhead habitat by removing barriers to migration, improving river conditions, and restoring floodplains.
CULTIVATE local and regional public support for conserving working forest lands by demonstrating their economic and recreational value.
Conservation Opportunity Areas
Priority 1: East Fork Lewis River, Washougal River
Priority 2: Wind River, Bull Run-Sandy Rivers
Priority 3: Other Important Areas
The Agenda at Work
“If we don’t prioritize conservation now, we risk losing everything—our history, our culture, our curiosity, and the simple wonders of nature.”
—HANNAH CLARK, Executive Director, Washington Association of Land Trusts
Hannah Clark spends her weekends backpacking and her weekdays advocating for funding and policies that support healthy forests. As the executive director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts, Clark has collaborated with the Land Trust to protect thousands of acres of timberland south of Mount St. Helens. Today, we’re working with local foresters to set these lands on a course toward becoming our region’s next great old-growth forest. In the coming years, the Land Trust will build coalitions to conserve the vast forests of the West Cascades—tens of thousands of acres—that are vital to wildlife while still allowing economic opportunities in forestry.