Learn how different community forests approach community engagement in the planning and management of properties.

This conversation will feature presentations and discussions focusing on:

1. How community members were engaged in the project’s formation.

2. How community members are engaged in ongoing management efforts.

3. How intentional engagement with Tribes best informs community forest goals.

Photo credit: Sustainable Northwest — Community Planning Meeting

Learn about different community forest management and governance structures.

This panel will include perspectives and experiences from community forests that:

1. Utilize a subsidiary Limited Liability Company to manage their community forest.

2. Establish a Public Development Authority to balance governance decisions across multiple counties.

3. Founded a 501c3 to manage a community forest across multiple land- owners.

Additional perspectives will be shared by a lead research in the field of community forestry.

Photo: Valley View Forest - Washington Association of Land Trusts

Hear from multiple forestland owners and managers within Whatcom County to discuss their approaches to forest management and how different entities engage in conversations with the public around their work.

This panel will highlight how different landowners facilitate community engagement, based on their goals, processes, and perspectives.

Full Panel Participation Attendees will be announced in the coming month.

Photo - Olsen Creek Forest - Washington DNR

Join for a panel discussing how community forests can better access markets. This discussion will highlight three key aspects of wood supply from community forests:

1. How can forest products contribute to the story of Community Forestry.

2. How can Community Forests better tell a story of forest products within projects.

3. How can Community Forests contribute to wood supplies and support milling and processing infrastructure.

Photo - Trillium Community Forest - Whidbey Camano Land Trust

1 pm, Wednesday, May 27th

To start our forum, join us for a tour of the Stewart Mountain Community Forest, an effort between the Nooksack Indian Tribe, Whatcom Land Trust, Whatcom County, and Evergreen Land Trust to establish a community forest, supporting watershed health, tribal land access, local jobs, low-impact public use, and more!