Discovering the Forest

Valley View Forest

Sun streaming through the trees at Valley View Forest

Forest ecosystems are characterized by fascinating relationships between wildlife, plants, trees, water, and air. Add human use and economies into the mix, and the dynamics at play become even more complex. Join us as we set out to explore these interconnections and ask, how does a community forest thrive for the good of all?

In Discovering the Forest, our goal was to come together as a community to deepen our shared understanding of forests and what a community forest can be. We hope to use that understanding to shape our vision of the amazing opportunity we have for community involvement at Valley View Forest and Chimacum Ridge Forest.

We hosted two virtual learning series as part of Discovering the Forest. The first began in the winter of 2020 and focused on forest health, forest management, forest benefits, and our vision for a community forest on Chimacum Ridge. The second ran in the fall of 2021 and focused on the selective timber harvest at Valley View Forest. Check out the recordings here >>

And to get an inside look at community forestry at Valley View Forest, check out this podcast from KPTZ’s Nature Now program. Host Nan Evans met Jefferson Land Trust’s Stewardship Director Erik Kingfisher and Preserve Manager Carrie Clendaniel at Valley View in June to discuss how community forestry is unlocking ecological and human benefits in Jefferson County.

Listen to the podcast here >>


 

Trees at Valley View Forest

Valley View Forest in Chimacum, opened in October 2020, offers the perfect location to apply our learning. Read more and find directions here.