The Teanaway Community Forest serves as a model for forest restoration across Washington by bringing people and nature together.
Nestled in the mountains of the Central Cascades, the Teanaway Community Forest (50,241 acres) is the first state-owned community forest in Washington. The forest encompasses 400 miles of free-flowing streams and prime habitat for fish and wildlife.
Hear from the Public Lands Commissioner, Yakama Nation, and more to learn about how and why the community values the Teanaway Community Forest.
Community forests are working forests owned and managed by municipalities, government agencies, Tribes, and non-profit organizations for the benefit of local communities. These forests enable community members to participate as stakeholders in forest management decisions and to develop land management plans that balance multiple objectives.
For the past ten years, the Teanaway Community Forest has been co-managed by the WA Department of Natural Resources and the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, with an advisory committee made up of local community members. During this time, partners have come together to accomplish transformative restoration efforts including wildfire prevention and stream restoration, creating a healthier forest that benefits people, fish, and wildlife.
Fully embracing the community's vision for the Teanaway requires accelerating restoration efforts, increasing recreation opportunities, building climate resilience of the landscape, and improving education and outreach. DNR has requested the funds necessary to support this work, but only part of this request has been met. Additional funding is needed to cover crucial pieces of wildlife habitat restoration, road maintenance, and recreation.
DNR and community partners are committed to achieving these outcomes, and ask the Washington State Legislature to fully fund DNR’s community forests Operations and Maintenance request. TNC looks forward to seeing the Teanaway Community Forest reach its full potential as a place where people and nature thrive.
Banner photo: Teanaway Community Forest and Plum Creek lands seen from Roslyn Ridge, Washington.
© Benjamin Drummond
