Chimacum Ridge Community Forest

In Chimacum, Washington, Trust for Public Land partnered with Jefferson Land Trust to protect 853 acres of forest that provide much more than natural beauty: they support the region’s identity and climate resilience—as well as local economies that rely on responsibly harvested wood.

When negotiating the property’s purchase, TPL and Jefferson Land Trust arranged for two conservation easements on the property, respectively. One prevents any future real estate development. The other lays out a series of rules regarding future timber harvests, letting trees grow longer, for instance, and allowing for a variety of tree species.

A lighter touch—logging less frequently and thinning trees rather than clear-cutting—reduces the threat of erosion and holds huge climate and environmental benefits. It means a healthier, more biodiverse forest that will effectively capture and store carbon. And without runoff from lawns and streets, creeks that support salmon on either side of Chimacum Ridge will remain clear and cold.

Unlike a lot of conserved lands, this property doubles as a working forest. The model, with Jefferson Land Trust poised to harvest trees sustainably, preserves a way of life that has dominated the area for generations. It protects logging and milling jobs. It provides locally sourced timber for woodworkers and craftspeople such as wooden boatbuilders in the region. And it demonstrates an ecologically sensitive approach to managing timberlands.

Now called Chimacum Ridge Community Forest, the non-working parts of the forest will be available to the public for healthy pursuits such as hiking, fishing, birdwatching, horseback riding, and mountain biking. It’s all part of TPL’s community-centric approach, which means working with residents to ensure local landscapes provide what they need to flourish.