Effective coalitions

Columbia Highlands Initiative

The Kettle Range Conservation Group (since 2004 part of Conservation Northwest) successfully challenged hundreds of logging projects on the eastern Okanogan and Colville National Forests, safeguarding over half a million acres of wild, roadless forest and old growth forests. Now, using a collaborative approach, we're part of a collaborative effort to create a management proposal for the region to protect wilderness, restore old forests, and sustain local communities.

The Loomis Forest Fund

In 1999 Conservation Northwest led the Loomis Forest Fund, a coalition of over 70 organizations, to raise $16.5 million within a year and protect 25,000 acres of critical lynx habitat in the Loomis State Forest. The story of this landmark achievement is a model for imaginative–and effective–conservation work.

The Cascades Conservation Partnership

Spearheaded by Conservation Northwest, this creative campaign raised $86 million to protect 60 square miles of forest, natural areas, trails, and rivers to link the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area to Mount Rainier National Park. The area, pierced by Interstate 90, is essential for safe wildlife passage in the Cascades. The vision for conservation in this key corridor continues through the work of the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition.

Community collaboration in the Cascades

As part of the Pinchot Partnership, which we helped found, Conservation Northwest has worked on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to retool a long abandoned timber sale as an ecologically sound thinning project. "Smooth Juniper" combines jobs in the woods with ecosystem protection, serving as a model for forest restoration projects in the Northwest, where densely-grown second-growth plantations are a common feature of our forests.

Supporting creation of Granby and Gladstone Wilderness Parks, BC

In 1995 Conservation Northwest (as Kettle Range Conservation Group) aided forest activists in British Columbia in gathering public comments in support of the protection of more than 200,000 acres of wilderness in the Granby Wilderness Park and Mt. Gladstone Wilderness Park in Canada. That saved habitat for grizzly bears, Canada lynx, mountain caribou, and the many other large animals which need wild habitat.

Creative outreach

The effort to protect remaining wildlands and animals requires more than promoting legislation, upholding conservation laws, and monitoring timber sales. What's needed first and foremost is support from the public and a national awareness of our natural heritage. To that end, Conservation Northwest has done big and creative things:

Ancient Forest Rescue Expedition

In 1991 and 1992, toured around the country a huge portion of an ancient Douglas fir to highlight the issue of protecting public old-growth forests.

Endangered Salmon Adventure

In 1994, twice toured the nation with "Fin," a 25-foot-long, walk-through salmon sculpture, to highlight the plight of salmon and the importance of the Endangered Species Act.

Thunder Mountain

Made national headlines in 1996 for submitting the winning bid to purchase the Thunder Mountain timber sale on the Okanogan National Forest; of course, we aimed to conserve Thunder Mountain, not log it.

Ancient Forest Roadshow

From 2001 to 2004, a coalition of thirteen conservation groups including Conservation Northwest formed the Northwest Old-Growth Campaign. The goal was to protect mature and old-growth forests on federal public lands in western Washington and Oregon by providing information, engaging the public, and calling upon policy makers to permanently protect ancient forests. In 2004, the Ancient Forest Roadshow introduced a slice of our natural heritage, "The Doug" and the issue of the logging of old growth to hundreds of caring people around the nation.