How you can help create the Skyline Community Forest

If you haven’t yet heard, Central Oregon achieved a monumental victory at the end of June when the Oregon Legislature passed and the governor signed the Skyline Forest bill. The bill provides a unique opportunity to create what will be Oregon’s very first community forest — and quite possibly the nation’s largest community forest.

The proposed Skyline Community Forest consists of more than 30,000 acres of private timberland between Bend and Sisters. After nearly five years of effort, the Deschutes Land Trust and Central Oregon are a very big step closer to creating Skyline Community Forest. However, the length and complexity of the project have left many in Central Oregon confused. Community forests have a remarkable power to bring people together and the undersigned have joined with John Shelk of Ochoco Lumber and Paul Dewey of Central Oregon LandWatch to produce this column in an effort to dispel confusion and move the concept forward.

So, why is Skyline Community Forest so important to Central Oregon? For starters, Skyline Forest is our most iconic scenic view: The 50 square miles of green, forested foothills you see below the Three Sisters mountains. For generations, a series of timber companies managed this private timberland, providing local jobs, critical wildlife habitat and recreational access for the community. Today, those timber companies are long gone and these private forests are at great risk of being converted to home sites. For these reasons, the Deschutes Land Trust has worked to acquire and sustainably manage the forest on behalf of our local communities and future generations.

With the legislation enacted, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect our most important scenic views, to create a world-class trail system connecting Bend, Tumalo and Sisters, to protect a key migratory corridor for wildlife, all while creating sustainable jobs managing the forest. However, to seize this opportunity, we as a community will have to come together to raise the funds to purchase and manage this forest for our children and grandchildren.

Let’s be clear. Skyline Community Forest doesn’t exist — yet! The land needed to create the Skyline Community Forest remains privately owned by Fidelity National Timber. The recent legislation allows Fidelity to shift and concentrate its development rights onto a small corner of the forest. In exchange, Fidelity must sell 30,000 acres of Skyline and as much as 35,000 acres along the Little Deschutes River to the Land Trust. Fidelity must sell at the value of the land’s timber. Though timber prices fluctuate, that value will be far lower than if valued for development, which means the Land Trust finally has a viable transaction. However, when Fidelity is ready to act, the Deschutes Land Trust must be ready to step up and purchase the forest. To be ready, the Land Trust has to start preparing today. You can help the Land Trust prepare in several ways:

1. Join the Land Trust. The Land Trust has an impressive list of accomplishments, but to create and manage the country’s largest community forest, the Land Trust has to grow. You can help by becoming a Land Trust member and keeping this effort moving forward.

2. Learn more about Skyline Forest. Whether on a guided Land Trust tour or out on your own, experience the forest for yourself. Then, think about what you want your children and grandchildren to see when they visit the forest years from now.

3. Spread the word. Tell your friends and neighbors about Skyline Forest and the Land Trust. Invite the Land Trust to your service or social club to talk about Skyline and its value to the community. Write a letter to the editor, post a blog and spread the word.

4. Help purchase Skyline Forest. When the landowner signals they’re ready, the final sprint will begin - a communitywide fundraising campaign to purchase the forest. Your help will be needed.

For nearly five years, the Land Trust has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of these lands and develop innovative funding sources to support a purchase of the land. Sometimes those efforts were visible, and sometimes they weren’t. However, because the Land Trust never took its eyes off the goal, the path is now clear and the goal achievable. The ability to remain focused is a credit to the many supporters who have stood with the Land Trust. This most recent legislative victory marks the midway point in a marathon project, creating the nation’s largest community forest. But like any marathoner, the Deschutes Land Trust will need continued support to finish the race. With your help, the community can seize this unprecedented opportunity to create Skyline Community Forest, as well as another nearly 35,000 acres of forestland along the Little Deschutes River. Together, we’ll create jobs, secure breathtaking views, craft new recreational opportunities and protect wildlife.

Brad Chalfant is executive director of the Deschutes Land Trust, and
Mike Hollern is chairman and chief executive of Brooks Resources.