Healthy, intact forests and watersheds are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, such as drought and fire. The Citizens Council is committed to working collaboratively to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects on our public lands to ensure that our watersheds are resilient in the face of climate change. To accomplish this goal, the Citizens Council has been a part of the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Restoration Strategy. We believe that collaboration is critical to solving the threats that our public lands face.

North Central WA Forest Health Collaborative:

The North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative is a diverse group of local and regional conservation groups, tribal government biologists, timber industry leaders, elected officials, and local, state, and federal land managers. We work together to obtain the resources and community support to accelerate science-based, landscape-scale forest restoration. The Collaborative was founded in 2013. MVCC has been an official member since 2018. www.ncwfhc.org

MVCC is calling on the Forest Service to make sure the Collaborative is involved in a meaningful way in developing the Twisp Restoration proposal.

OWNF Restoration Strategy:

In 2012, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest adopted a Forest Restoration Strategy, a science-driven, collaborative approach that was the first of its kind nationally. The Strategy describes the Forest Service’s method for implementing their “restoration vision” and the scientific basis for the restoration. It outlines how land managers will evaluate the landscape and set priorities for restoration. It also discusses and outlines which forests need adaptive management and monitoring. More background here: Restoring the forests – Methow Valley News 

MVCC is calling on the Forest Service to carefully follow this important strategy in developing the Twisp Restoration proposal.