Forests for the People: Why Community Forests Matter

Article by Lauren McCaskill – The research discussed below was conducted during Lauren’s master’s thesis completed under the guidance of Dr. Reem Hajjar, in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, and as part of a larger project and team studying community forestry across the US.

When I first became interested in forestry, I was struck by how deeply forests shape the lives of the people who live closest to them — providing clean water, recreation, wildlife habitat, a sense of place, and so many other benefits. I was drawn to study community forestry because this model of forest management provides the opportunity to center local voices at the heart of the stewardship and decision-making process. During my time at Oregon State University, I learned about the growth of community forestry in the US, and how it offers communities the opportunity to care for and benefit from their forests. 

What is community forestry

At its core, community forestry shifts some control over forest management away from central authorities—such as corporations or federal governments—and toward local governments or communities. It’s generally a model that puts more decision-making power into the hands of the people most connected to, and most impacted by, the forest and its resources.

In my research, I drew from McGinley et al.’s definition of community forests, as forested spaces “where community members have access to and management responsibilities for natural resources, are engaged in their governance, and receive direct and indirect benefits from their management”. 

More specifically, the article Community Forests in the United States – How Do We Know One When We See One? reviews historic and contemporary literature and identifies the following defining characteristics of community forests:

The following video from the Northwest Community Forest Coalition also does a great job of explaining community forestry, and some of the benefits that come from this model of forest management. 

Why community forestry

Some of the ‘why’ is discussed above–as a model of forest management, community forestry is all about keeping decisions and benefits close to home. Instead of being managed from afar, the forest is cared for by the people who know it best and depend on it most. Supporters also point out that this approach makes it easier to respond to local priorities, balance different goals, and connect caring for the environment with supporting community livelihoods.

I saw this echoed in much of my own research while in graduate school. Just as no two communities are the same, no two community forests are exactly alike. Each one is shaped by different needs and priorities, and the motivations for establishing them can vary widely. In my research, I spoke with members of several communities about their community forests, including the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area and Pine Street Woods. These two examples highlight different approaches to community forestry, and while every community forest is unique, their insights and lessons can offer guidance for others.

A brief overview of two community forests:

The Blackfoot Community Conservation Area (BCCA) is a 41,000 acre area of forest in Ovando, Montana, under mixed public and private ownership, and managed collaboratively. This area includes a 5,600 acre community forest, referred to as the “core”. The community forest is owned by the Blackfoot Challenge, a local nonprofit, and managed by a council made up of 15 community members.

The BCCA was created in response to the large-scale sell-off of timberlands, when the timber company that owned much of the nearby forestland announced plans to divest. The community grew concerned that development—already increasing in nearby watersheds—would fragment the landscape and cut off access. For generations, the community had worked in these forests, hunted, and used it for recreation, and they were determined not to lose that connection.

After years of collaboration with partners, the BCCA was established to safeguard community access while protecting the land. Today, it provides critical wildlife habitat and continues to support livestock grazing, timber production, and recreation. The vision for the BCCA core is to create a working landscape that balances ecological diversity with local economic sustainability, ensuring long-term benefits for the Blackfoot watershed community.

Pine Street Woods is a 180-acre community forest in Sandpoint, Idaho, owned by the Kaniksu Land Trust. The community forest was created when local leaders—particularly the board of the Kaniksu Land Trust—recognized the community’s need for easily accessible outdoor space. Although the greater Sandpoint area is surrounded by public lands, those areas can be difficult to reach due to transportation barriers, steep terrain, or the skills and confidence required to navigate remote backcountry.

Located just outside of town, Pine Street Woods offers a more accessible alternative. In addition to its trails and open spaces, it provides meaningful recreational and educational opportunities, with the land trust and its partners hosting programs for local school students and their families.

While timber production is not a primary goal, Pine Street Woods is certified under the American Tree Farm System and occasionally conducts harvests to improve forest health. A portable sawmill on the property allows the forest to provide locally sourced, affordable timber to the community—an effort that also doubles as a hands-on educational opportunity to learn about forestry and sustainable forest management.

If you’re interested in reading more about the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area or Pine Street Woods, feel free to read my thesis here (though no hard feelings if you don’t!).

Community forests are as varied as the people who steward them, but (generally) they share a common goal: keeping decisions and benefits close to home. Whether it’s through climate adaptation research, educational programs, or protecting access to cherished local landscapes, community forestry shows what’s possible when neighbors work together for the long term. As the climate changes, community forestry offers a model rooted in resilience, stewardship, and hope for the future.

If you’d like to learn more about community forests, here are some resources:

• Northwest Community Forest Coalition – Offers a wealth of information on community forestry in the Pacific Northwest, including maps, case studies, and a video series.
• Trust for Public Land – Features case studies of community forests across the country and information on funding sources for those interested in creating their own.
• Sustainable Northwest – Highlights ongoing work with community forests, especially around protecting drinking water and other community benefits.
• Nisqually Community Forest – Learn about the history and current efforts of NCF, a locally owned and managed working forest.
• Great Peninsula Conservancy – Learn more about the community forests owned and managed by GPC.
• Jefferson Land Trust – Learn more about JLT’s work to establish the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest.
• Eagle Creek Community Forest – Learn more about the ECCF, owned and managed by the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District.
• The Arch Cape Community Forest – Learn more about the ACCF, owned and managed by the Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District.
• Butte Falls Community Forest – Read about the town of Butte Falls, and what they’re doing to create a community forest.
• Open Spaces, Open Minds: Community Forests Plant Seeds of Consensus – In this Seattle Times opinion piece, OSU professor Reem Hajjar explains how community forests can help build common ground across political divides.

And here are some of the academic works I found useful in writing this article:

• “Community Forests” in the United States – How Do we Know One When we See One? By Gregory E. Frey, Reem Hajjar, Susan Charnley, Kathleen McGinley, John Schelhas, Nathan A. Tarr, Lauren McCaskill, and Frederick W. Cubbage
• Community forest ownership, rights, and governance regimes in the United States by Kathleen McGinley, Susan Charnley, Frederick Cubbage, Reem Hajjar, Gregory Frey, John Schelhas, Meredith Hovis, and Kailey Kornhauser
• Equity in Community Forestry in the Western US by Lauren McCaskill