The Conservation Alliance

Home

Deschutes Land Trust

Website
http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org
Contact Name
Sarah Mowry
Contact Email
sarah@antispamdeschuteslandtrust.org
Past Grants
2011 · $30,000
2006 · $25,000
Grand Total
$55,000

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves and protects land in Central Oregon for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. The Land Trust is currently working to acquire and conserve Skyline Forest--33,000 acres of forest west of Bend, Oregon. Skyline Forest is Central Oregon's scenic view and recreation future.

Photo at right: Skyline Forest from Tumalo Reservoir (Jim Yuskavitch). Learn more about Skyline Forest at www.deschuteslandtrust.org

Project Update

Skyline Forest: A work in progress
July 2011

The Deschutes Land Trust is currently working to conserve a massive block of land near Bend and Sisters, Oregon called Skyline Forest. This 33,000 acre former tree farm was historically known as the Bull Springs Tree Farm, and is one of several commercial timberlands in central Oregon threatened with conversion to residential development.

Surrounded by state and federal lands, Skyline Forest contains important wildlife habitat, tremendous recreation opportunities and protects the scenic green foothills that set off the Central Oregon Cascades.  If protected, Skyline Forest would be the Northwest’s largest community forest devoted to sustainable production of forest products, jobs, wildlife, scenic views, and recreation.

Skyline Forest is currently owned by Fidelity National Financial, through a holding company and these owners are engaged in long-term discussions with the Land Trust on the future of Skyline Forest.  Although we’ve been working to acquire the property since 2004, Skyline Forest is not yet protected.

While the public may wonder why the process is taking so long, or even think that the project has stalled, all parties involved continue to talk and all appear committed to seeing Skyline Forest become a reality. To be sure, the ups and downs that we’ve witnessed with Skyline aren’t at all unusual and the secret to our ultimate success is our ability to keep talking with a landowner for as long as it takes. We’re able to do that, because the community, including the Conservation Alliance, has generously supported this work.  

The Deschutes Land Trust began chasing Skyline Forest back in 2004 and we’ve seen several notable successes since then. The Land Trust remains committed to the permanent protection of Skyline Forest for the wildlife, recreation, scenic views and forest jobs that it can provide. Skyline Forest is simply too important to the future of Central Oregon. So, as long as the community is behind us, we’ll be at the table… for as long as it takes.  With your help, we'll continue this urgent work.

If you would like to find out more about the history of the Skyline Forest project, follow the timeline, or learn more on our website.