What We’re Doing

At The Conservation Fund, we believe that working forests can be financially self-sustaining and environmentally healthy. We’re demonstrating a new way to sustainably manage these famed forests, as a nonprofit owner that uses both sound environmental strategy and sound economics—including a “light-touch” harvest regimen, sales of carbon offsets and a supply of local jobs. We work with our partners to skillfully manage both forest growth and harvest to ensure that these forests remain viable ecosystems for generations to come.  The North Coast Forests are certified to two of the most comprehensive standards for forest management; the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® and the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC-C001535).  Explore our work over the last several years through a selection of in-depth reports on the North Coast Reference Documents page.

Click here to view our 2021 North Coast Forest Annual Review

Why This Project Matters

Since 2004, we have owned and managed more than 74,000 acres: Buckeye, Garcia River, Big River, Salmon Creek and Gualala River forests. In addition to restoring the forests’ watersheds and supporting local economies, these efforts fight climate change. Our forest properties were among the first and largest to receive verification as a source of greenhouse gas reductions under the protocols of the Cap and Trade Project Protocol. These projects have now transitioned to the California Air Resources Board Compliance Offset Protocol, U.S. Forest Projects.

Learn More

• Educational Tall Ship In San Francisco
• Buckeye Forest 
• Big River And Salmon Creek Forests
• Garcia River Forest
• Usal Redwood Forest 
• Gualala River Forest 
• Restoring a Forest – And Home For  The Coastal Tailed Frog

Sustainable Forestry? How Does It Work?

Protecting and maintaining working forests, and the communities that depend on them, remains one of the Fund's top conservation priorities. Watch the video to learn why.

Why Do Forests Matter?

At The Conservation Fund, we believe that well-managed forests can be both economically viable and ecologically sustainable, but like all other necessary parts of our national infrastructure, they need to be invested in and maintained. That's why, since 1985, we've protected more than two million forest acres across America.

Saving Salmon One Log At A Time

In 2011, the Fund and The Nature Conservancy set out to find ways to improve and restore endangered coho salmon habitat in the Fund's Garcia River Forest.