Thorndyke Forest

For more than 100 years, Thorndyke Forest has delivered clean, cool water to Hood Canal, sequestered carbon from the atmosphere, and expanded public access to the Olympic Peninsula. Managed by Pope Resources as a working forest, Thorndyke has sustained important rural jobs and supported local mills. Despite the multitude of benefits to the local economy and environment, working forests like Thorndyke face increasing pressure from development. As nearby urban centers grow and land values increase, developers look to the forests of the Olympic Peninsula as the next frontier for development.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to protect forests like Thorndyke and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth that supports economic development while protecting the iconic landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula. Together with Jefferson Land Trust, Pope Resources, and U.S. Navy, The Trust for Public Land has conserved 1,936 acres of Thorndyke Forest with an easement to keep the forest working. The easement will prevent development, support sustainable forestry, protect rural jobs, and maintain public access. This success represents the first of three or four phases. In the years to come, The Trust for Public Land, Pope Resources, Jefferson Land Trust, and the U.S. Navy will work together to ultimately protect nearly 15,000 acres of Thorndyke Forest.

Through collaborations like these and projects like Thorndyke, our collective actions today will shape the Olympic Peninsula for decades to come. Together, we can protect the waters, forests, and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula for future generations to explore.