Since its inception, Cascadia Wildlands has worked to safeguard remaining old-growth forests (James Johnston).Hopefully, this section helps you better understand the inner workings and intentions of Cascadia Wildlands.
What we do
We protect the most threatened wild places and wildlife from Oregon to Alaska.
Where we work
We work in the Cascadia bioregion (within the US) where threats to wild places and wildlife are highest. The Cascadia bioregion is the forest zone extending along the Pacific Coast from northern California to south-central Alaska.
Our vision
We envision vast old-growth forests, rivers full of wild salmon, wolves howling in the backcountry, and vibrant communities sustained by the unique landscapes of the Cascadia bioregion.
Our mission
Cascadia Wildlands educates, agitates, and inspires a movement to protect and restore Cascadia's wild ecosystems.
History
Cascadia Wildlands began in 1998 when a small group of passionate students and community members decided to take action against rampant clearcutting in Oregon's Cascades and Coast Range. Since then Cascadia Wildlands has grown into a regional conservation leader. Though grassroots organizing, policy work and litigation, we have protected millions of acres of wildlands and prevented endangered wildlife from reaching extinction.
FAQ
What is Cascadia Wildlands?
Cascadia Wildlands is a lean, mean environmental group that protects and restores wild ecosystems. Since our founding in 1998 we have protected millions of acres of wild forests and rivers. We are supported by thousands of community members, progressive businesses, philanthropic foundations, passionate volunteers, a dedicated board of directors and an advisory board. Cascadia Wildlands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Where do you work?
Cascadia Wildlands works in the Cascadia bioregion where the threats to wild places and endangered wildlife are highest (within the US). We believe the most threatened wildlands right now are in Oregon and Alaska. To address these threats, we have offices in Eugene, Oregon, outside of Roseburg, Oregon, and Cordova, Alaska.
What is the Cascadia bioregion?
A bioregion is defined by natural boundaries instead of arbitrary political lines. The Cascadia bioregion is the temperate forest zone extending from northern California to south-central Alaska. We love our bioregion for its lush forests, steep mountains, roaring rivers, awe-inspiring critters, micro economies, and unparalleled quality of life.
What do you actually do?
Cascadia Wildlands employs a staff of talented professionals who identify wild places in critical need of protection. Guided by a diverse board of directors and council of advisors, we advocate, organize, collaborate, litigate, educate, and agitate to protect these threatened wildlands. Organizing citizens to take action, leading hikes to threatened areas, talking with media, presenting in classrooms, suing governments when they breaks the law, hosting community events, and working with land managers to design restoration projects are all in a days work!
Are you against all logging?
No. One of our goals is to protect older forest ecosystems. When logging threatens those forests, we work to stop it. We also recognize in some cases restorative logging can accelerate the recovery of degraded forests. For example, we generally support restoration thinning in human-created tree plantations that lack structural and species diversity when the logging systems are designed in a way to minimize impacts to soils and important landscape features. In some cases we also support carefully planned thinning in dry forests that have experienced the effects of fire suppression. Thinning in these unnaturally dense stands can protect legacy features like old-growth trees from being consumed by wildfire.
Are you the people who sit in trees?
No. We do not participate in activities such as tree sits or road blockades. We use a diversity of tactics to prevent destructive projects from reaching the point where community members engage in civil disobedience.
Where does my donation go?
Efficiency is practically our middle name! We run an extremely tight ship and get a lot done on a tiny budget. More than 85% of donations go directly to protecting endangered forests, rivers, and critters. The remainder keeps our lights on and doors open!
Are you going to sell my information?
Cascadia Wildlands has a simple, strict policy when it comes to your personal information: we never sell or share your information. We respect your privacy and hope to earn your trust.