Aerial photograph of Chimacum Ridge Forest from EFM, the current owner.
“Community Forests are forestlands that are owned and managed on behalf of local people to provide them secure and reliable access to the ecological, social, and economic benefits produced by forests.”
This sketch illustrates the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest governance structure.
Jefferson Land Trust has been working to protect Chimacum Ridge Forest with the goal of creating a community forest that would provide a balance of social, economical, and ecological benefits for the community forever.
During 2020, a Strategic Vision Framework was developed to define the purpose of and help guide future decisions concerning the future community forest. During this planning, Land Trust staff members and a 12-member Project Team made up of community leaders with a strong sense of place and skills relevant to the community forest vision recommended an ownership and governance model for Chimacum Ridge Community Forest.
Jefferson Land Trust’s Board of Directors adopted the Governance Proposal for the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest at its March 2023 Board Meeting.
Chimacum Ridge Community Forest LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jefferson Land Trust was created to own Chimacum Ridge Community Forest and a seven-member board of managers was recruited and appointed to manage the forest’s operations.
A seven-member volunteer Chimacum Ridge Community Forest Board of Managers is overseeing the establishment and operation of a community forest following the purchase of Chimacum Ridge Forest by Jefferson Land Trust from EFM at the end of 2023.
In addition to the seven-member Board of Managers, three Advisory Groups support the Board of Managers on the social, economic, and ecological benefits of the Community Forest.
Learn more about the Advisory Groups.
