Newport Forest Hill Community Forest

Newport Forest Hill Community Forest was established by the Oregon Coast Community Forest (OCCFA) Association, a Lincoln-county-based nonprofit organization, in 2013. Goals of the property include offering educational and research opportunities, cultivating a safe space for outdoor therapy, and providing an example of a forest moving towards old growth conditions.

Some of the community benefits that this property provides include:

  1. Serving as a safe space for outdoor therapy through a partnership with the Walden Project.

  2. The property is the host for OCCFA’s Fair Share Program and cradle to grave tree story, which work with local producers to create value-added wood products and support the economy.

  3. The community forest protects biodiversity by conserving high-quality habitat that is moving towards old-growth conditions.

This image shows a person with a chainsaw cutting a log on the forest floor.

The stewards of Forest Hill Community Forest practice “windfall harvesting,” extremely light touch harvest of wood products that works harmoniously with natural disturbance.

Photo provided by Leslie Palotas

Additional Property Facts:

  1. Wood products from the property are sold as part of OCCFA’s Local Woods brand, and come geotagged with the location of the tree they were made from.

  2. The property is 17.5 acres and located between the towns of Newport and Toledo. OCCFA works with the governments of both towns to support responsible management of other city-owned natural areas.

The Forest Hill Community Forest provides a beautiful example of a coastal forest managed for community benefit. Learn more below.

Four blue eggs sit in a small nest made of moss and fibers, surrounded by ferns.

Right: The Forest Hill Community Forest is a haven for abundant wildlife.

This image shows a pickup truck on a narrow forest road, with log sections and a hand truck in the back.

Left: “Windfall Harvest” timber from the Forest Hill Community Forest is used to create bespoke wood products.

Photos: Leslie Palotas

This document is supported in part by financial assistance from the Forest Service. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.