Category: News

With the turning of the seasons Northwest Natural Resource Group welcomes crunching leaves underfoot, bounties of forest fungi—and two new staff members!

Young-stand thinning (aka pre-commercial thinning or PCT) is a silvicultural practice that entails removing the individual trees that are declining in a forest―often they are smaller and have less robust crowns―and are less than 20 years old.

The Skokomish Indian Tribe has earned Forest Stewardship Council® certification for its 2,100-acre forest at the south end of Hood Canal, making it the first tribe in Washington state to gain that endorsement.The Skokomish Tribe join three other Indian tribes in the United States in maintaining FSC® certification: the Coquille Tribe in Oregon, the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council in California, and the Menominee in Wisconsin.

Snags, large down logs, and big decadent trees provide food and shelter to more than 40 percent of wildlife species in Pacific Northwest forests. They are important structures for cavity-dependent birds and small mammals, food sources for woodpeckers and other foragers, and  slowly release nutrients into the ecosystem with the help of decomposer critters. 

2018 was a productive year for NNRG and the forests our members steward! We are so inspired by the landowners and managers in our community who worked to enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species, removed invasive species, planted a diverse array of native seedlings and shrubs, and pursued new markets for local wood products. These are highlights from 2018.

This month, NNRG wrapped up a project to help landowners in the San Juans improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and use the slash and woody biomass byproducts in creative and beneficial ways.

Across Oregon and Washington, more than 600,000 acres of forestland are certified as “well managed” by the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). And yet, much of the wood harvested from these forests doesn’t make it to the consumer with its certification intact. In many cases, these logs are sold into the generic wood market and don’t receive any special recognition when turned into lumber, plywood, or furniture. For NNRG, with our 190,000-acre group certificate that now covers a larger area than any other in the Pacific Northwest, that is a grave disappointment, and it affects about 90 percent

Three years, five targets, and seventeen measures of success: we invite you to read our Strategic Plan for 2018-2020, released this spring.

2017 was a productive year for NNRG and the forests our members steward! We are so inspired by the landowners and managers in our community who worked to enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species, removed invasive species, planted a diverse array of native seedlings and shrubs, and pursued new markets for local wood products. Many thanks to this dedicated community of ecologically-minded forest owners, land managers and NNRG’s partners who steward biodiverse forests and contribute to the regional economy. Here are some highlights of our year: Accomplishments Hosted 5 workshops on ecologically-based forest management, fuels reduction, biochar creation, and

Eugene Weekly published a wonderful piece celebrating the values behind responsibly sourced timber. Two of our pioneering  members are featured in the story. Both Hyla Woods and Zena Forest are Forest Stewardship Council-certified woodlands that employ diverse silvicultural practices that balance forest health and wildlife habitat with sustainable timber production. Learn more about their stewardship and buy beautiful wood to support ecological forestry!

NNRG is excited to announce Seth Zuckerman as our new Executive Director! Seth brings expertise in sustainable forestry, watershed restoration, salmon runs, and climate change to NNRG’s helm. Seth comes to us from Climate Solutions, where he wrote the weekly column ClimateCast and researched biofuels, among other topics. Before that, he directed a program partnering with private landowners in California’s Mattole watershed to restore riparian ecosystems, reduce fire hazards, control invasive species, and harvest timber. He has decades of experience as an environmental journalist and has a Masters in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley. We wanted to get to

The wet season is the perfect time to plant young trees, native shrubs, and flowers! When it comes to planting, timing is important. At lower elevations, planting in late fall or early winter gives plants a head start. In mid-elevation areas, late winter and early spring is the time to put new trees and shrubs in the ground. Planting before the start of the spring growing season helps ensure survival as small plants have time to recover from the shock of transplanting. That way, they can focus on growing roots that connect them to nutrients and water in the soil, and have

Cedar Row Farm is a gorgeous 160-acre FSC-certified forest in Oregon that has been a member of Northwest Certified Forestry since 2013. A wonderful recent piece in The New York Times highlights Eve Lonnquist and Lynn Baker’s incredible efforts to protect a century of family history. Tapping into carbon markets is an income option the family is considering to diversify their income and protect Cedar Row Farm for future generations. “Maybe I’d just be at home growing carbon,” says Lonnquist. “And maybe that’s the best thing.” Read the full story here! Photos: Leah Nash for The New York Times

Forests offer us inspiration and a connection to the land – one that renews us and often reminds us we have put in a day’s good work. Owning a forest can be a source of beauty, relaxation, recreation, and income for you and your family. There are many simple things that you can do to make your forest a better place to visit, attract more wildlife, and contribute to its upkeep.   Join us and start your stewardship journey with guidance from regional specialists and fellow woodland owners. Woodlands can be managed on a regenerative cycle that allows for healthy ecosystem functions, wildlife