Our Story

The landscape is a unique and diverse area that is important for people and natural resources. The forests include old growth Douglas fir, mixed conifer habitat with Ponderosa pine, western red cedar, Oregon white oak savannas, many dry and wet meadows and high alpine lakes. Sensitive plant species are found in meadows and high elevations. Cold water streams are home to spring Chinook and bull trout. Diverse wildlife habitats house Northern spotted owl, wolves, deer, elk, small mammals, and many birds and pollinators. The Three Sisters, Waldo, and Diamond Peak wilderness areas align along the east cascade crest. The area has a long history of human use, and includes important cultural sites, offers an abundance of recreational opportunities from hunting to horseback riding to hiking, and produces a large percentage of federal timber. 

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Changes in policy and in culture, particularly since the 1990s, deepened tensions about how the forest should be managed. Many local residents depend upon forest products and recreational tourism for their livelihoods. Yet, there is still a lot of overlap between social, ecological, and economic values. The Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative formed in 2014 to provide a space for the communities, land management agencies, and the public to work through conflict and build trust while creating solutions that address these priorities.