So you want to save your forest …


Investigate the local “park” where you hike or walk the dog, says community forest advocate Patricia Ayres Craw- ford. If you find that it’s actually private timberland, that means you could lose access if the property changes hands. But with some help, you may be able to protect it. “The first step is to get out there,” says Crawford. “Talk up the idea around town. Do some digging to determine what’s been tried in the past.” More tips:


Gather local support. Get friendly with your local land trust and forestry officials. “They’ll help you formulate a strategy,” says The Trust for Public Land’s Shelby Semmes—including a plan for funding. Solicit feedback—from friends, neighbors, local city and county officials, and on up the line to state leg- islators. Ultimately, says Semmes, you’ll need a local political supporter to be successful.


Let the land speak. While meetings and presentations are essential, nothing is more inspiring than a personal connec- tion to the forest. “Let the land speak, too,” says Crawford. She recommends bringing potential supporters out to the site to experience the place firsthand.


Get out the vote. Formalize community support for your project in a resolution approved by your town or city council. “These community forests are an opportunity to participate in local politics and observe democracy at its very best,” Semmes says.


Have fun. Don’t forget to celebrate, Crawford adds—not just at the end of the process but at every step along the path. “It’s integral to keeping up momentum and building community.”


scientific name


Pseudotsuga menziesii (also known as Oregon pine)


48 · LAND&PEOPLE · FALL/WINTER 2015


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