Forest Habitat

Building resilient, biodiverse forests that can thrive in a changing climate across Washington.

Our Approach

We work to restore Washington’s forests so they are resilient, biodiverse, and able to thrive in a changing climate.

Across the Northwest, decades of high-grade logging, roadbuilding, and fire suppression have altered natural forest structure and reduced ecological diversity. Our mission is to rebuild healthy forest ecosystems by protecting old growth, supporting science-based management, and restoring natural processes that sustain wildlife habitat from the Coast to the Rockies.

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Current Focus

What We’re Working On

Moist Forests

Forests are dynamic ecosystems that require active care to remain resilient and diverse. Through collaborative restoration efforts, we help ensure these landscapes continue to support both wildlife and people.

In moist forests, we help safeguard old and mature trees, retain standing dead wood, and support restoration that rebuilds the structural complexity needed by species like northern spotted owls, fishers, and marbled murrelets. This includes working with partners to remove or repair roads that damage hydrology and fragment habitat.

Across these landscapes, we engage local communities and agency decision makers early in project design so restoration actions reflect ecological science, local priorities, and long term habitat needs.

Dry Forests

In cold and dry forests, we focus on strategies that help wildlife and ecosystems adapt to climate driven changes in snowpack, vegetation, and fire behavior.

We work with partners to identify climate refugia, maintain habitat connectivity, and anticipate where species like Canada lynx, wolverine, and western gray squirrel will need to move as conditions shift. Because a century of fire suppression has increased fuel loads, we support the strategic use of prescribed fire, managed wildfire, and selective thinning to reduce the severity of future burns and maintain fire resilient forest structure. Our team regularly collaborates with land managers, Tribes, and local communities to shape restoration projects that balance ecological outcomes with community needs.

Across all forest types, we help advance science based strategies that protect wildlife, restore ecological function, and prepare these landscapes for a rapidly changing climate.

Impact & Results

A History of Forest Habitat

Our forest habitat management strategy is rooted in collaboration with federal, state, and regional conservation leaders and strategy. Together, we aim to conserve diverse forest habitat through science-based work and community partnerships.

Engaging in Major Forest Planning Frameworks

Supporting Washington’s 20 Year Forest Health Strategic Plan

Shaping Restoration and Management Across Washington’s Forest Landscapes

Engaging in Major Forest Planning Frameworks

Work in forest habitat is anchored in the Northwest Forest Plan and related federal and state planning processes that shape how mature forests, old growth, and critical wildlife habitat are managed across Washington. Engagement focuses on ensuring these plans protect ecological integrity and maintain habitat connectivity.

Supporting Washington’s 20 Year Forest Health Strategic Plan

Participation in the state’s long term forest health strategy helps guide restoration, thinning, and fire adaptation work across eastern Washington. The emphasis is on science based treatments that improve forest resilience and sustain habitat for species that depend on these landscapes.

Shaping Restoration and Management Across Washington’s Forest Landscapes

Staff engage broadly across Washington’s forest plans, collaboratives, and project level processes - from the Okanogan Wenatchee to the Colville, Mt. Baker -Snoqualmie, Gifford Pinchot, and state managed forests. This includes involvement in multi stakeholder groups, commenting on forest plans and projects, and supporting restoration that improves habitat quality and connectivity across the state’s diverse forest ecosystems.

Impact & Results

Our Key Accomplishments in Forest Habitat

From protecting critical landscapes to advancing collaborative forest restoration, these efforts deliver lasting benefits for wildlife, habitat connectivity, and climate resilience.

Loomis Forest Protection

Securing the Loomis State Forest’s permanent conservation designation

Protected ~24,000 acres of high value habitat, prevented fragmentation, and established a durable conservation framework that maintains connectivity between the Cascades and Okanogan Highlands. Staff led the coalition building and policy work that made the designation possible.

Collaborative Forest Model

Pioneering one of the nation’s first durable forest collaborative models

Helped establish the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition (NEWFC), one of the earliest and most enduring forest collaboratives in the country. By uniting conservation, timber, counties, Tribes, and recreation partners, it moved large scale forest health projects from conflict to implementation and set a model now replicated widely. Staff provided the convening and infrastructure that keep it functioning.

Landscape-Scale Restoration

Advancing large scale forest health and connectivity projects in Northeast Washington

Supported restoration treatments across priority landscapes around the Kettle Crest and Colville region, improving habitat resilience for lynx, mule deer, and wide ranging carnivores while reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. Staff consistently bridged policy and implementation by securing funding, aligning partners, and moving projects through NEPA into on the ground action.