Stewarding small working forests in the Pacific Northwest from one generation to the next.
Forest Legacy Trust is a land trust that cultivates thriving and resilient working forests and their stewards for the people, ecosystems, and economies that depend on them.
Nearly half of small private forests are cared for by landowners older than 65—many aging out without heirs.
Lacking a viable option for succession, most owners are reluctantly selling partials which are absorbed either into industrial ownership or further fragmented by development pressures.
Since 2015, Oregon alone has lost more than 1 million acres of “mom and pop” forestland. Meanwhile, soaring land prices makes ownership un-affordable for the next generation of stewards. Meanwhile, a rising generation of skilled stewards stands ready to care for these forests, if only they could afford them. To meet this challenge, we formed a land trust that perpetuates the legacy of working forests, on which people, ecosystems, and rural economies depend.
Why Small Forests Matter
The largest share of forestland in the United States is privately owned—not by industry or government, but by individuals and families. These working landscapes store carbon, produce oxygen, and protect clean water as well as shelter fish, wildlife, and pollinators. Managed with intention, they reduce wildfire risk and increase abundance- from mushrooms to lumber..
Working forests range from a few acres to thousands. Separately, they are small. Together they create ecological and community resilience.
Why Forest Stewards Matter
Small forest owners typically prioritize scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, and recreation over maximizing financial returns. Stewardship guides their decisions.
In Oregon alone, nearly 60,000 small forest owners care for 3.7 million acres of woodland, with an average holding of 94 acres.
“Between every two pines is a doorway
to a new world.”
— John Muir
Healthy forests are rooted in human care with generations of hands and hearts tending the same soil.
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