Gilchrist State Forest, Oregon
Ponderosa pines, one of the main trees found at Gilchrist Forest. Photo: Michael Lemmon/Flickr
Download
Gilchrist Forest Fact Sheet (PDF)
We’ve saved more than 1.5 million acres of forest across the country. As part of our efforts, we helped establish Gilchrist State Forest, the first addition to Oregon’s state forest system in more than 60 years.
In addition to the land for the new state forest, we purchased 25,000 acres adjacent to the new forest, with plans to retain them for future purchase by the state. Both tracts will be managed by the Oregon Board and Department of Forestry as a single unit. The department will manage the land to provide a broad range of benefits over the long term, including wildlife habitat, timber to provide jobs and revenue to support local government services, and public access for recreation.
A New Era For Forests
For much of the 20th century the land making up the new state forest was part of larger holdings owned by the Gilchrist Timber Company. The community of Gilchrist was the site of the company mill and home to many of its workers. The lands were harvested heavily and replanted in the early 1990s, after the Gilchrist Company sold them.
“The Gilchrist lands have been treasured in this part of Oregon for decades. Thanks to the support and vision of the community, the Board of Forestry, The Conservation Fund and others, we can celebrate the beginning of a great new era for these forests,” said Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.
Carbon Offsets At Gilchrist Forest
Working in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Fund has taken the initial step for registering the Gilchrist Forest with the Climate Action Reserve as an Improved Forest Management project. Assuming successful verification, revenue from the sale of offsets will support the acquisition and restoration of this important forest.
We’re excited to announce that The Wildlife Society selected our Gilchrist Forest carbon project as the beneficiary of donations from their 19th Annual Conference. For each conference registration, The Wildlife Society will donate $5 to our Gilchrist project. The conference will take place from October 13-18, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. If you’d like to attend the conference, click here.
