Willamette Valley Birding Trail

Forest Stewardship Initiative

For Members:

• Forms, checklists, worksheets & sample documents

Forest Stewardship Initiative

The Forest Stewardship Initiative is a part of the national stewardship contracting program to test methods of forest management that restore forest health and meet the needs of local communities.

Through the Stewardship Initiative, locally administered by Cascade Pacific, the U.S. Forest Service funds projects that help restore and maintain healthy forest ecosystems on private and non-federal lands, while increasing local employment opportunities in rural areas.

These funds are the result of the Healthy Forests Initiative, passed by Congress in 2003, which authorizes using federal timber income to improve the forests that produced the timber. These timber receipts, generated by thinning federal forests, were returned to the federal government prior to 2003. Now they provide opportunities for local restoration work.

This site was newly planted in 2007 as part of the Siuslaw Riparian Restoration project.

Who's involved?

The work is accomplished by local stewardship groups comprised of stakeholders: local landowners, USFS staff, watershed councils, restoration contractors, timber companies and others.

These groups identify projects that accomplish a range of environmental goals, including

• Improving water quality.
• Thinning trees to improve the health of the forest.
• Restoring wetlands.
• Improving wildlife habitats.
• Repairing or replacing culverts to assist fish passage and reduce sediment.
• Reducing soil runoff and erosion.

Want to help?

Cascade Pacific's area currently has three groups: the Alsea, Mary's Peak and Siuslaw Stewardship Groups. For more information, see the Cascade Pacific Forest Stewardship Initiative Web site or call Jackie Nichols at (541) 967-5925 x126.

REGIONAL PROGRAMS • Land • Forest Stewardship Initiative