Forest Resiliency
The Conservation Land Bank owns and manages forested lands across San Juan County. We establish general management objectives for each Preserve based on ecological conditions, recreational uses and other factors. In the context of these objectives, management decision making is informed by climate change projections, specific habitat goals (e.g., Garry oak, wildlife snags, understory development, etc.), wildfire risk, anticipated budget and staff capacity and many other factors.
We’ve sought to further inform planning efforts on some preserves by working with local forestry experts to assess forest conditions and prioritize forest stewardship actions. In recent years, we’ve increased the scope and scale of our forest management efforts and are pursuing larger stand thinning projects in collaboration with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and other agencies. For additional information about specific projects, please click on the links below:
Crescent Beach Preserve
Turtleback Mountain Preserve
There are many other examples of effective forest management both regionally and locally. Some resources include:
US Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Washington State Department of Natural Resources