Collaborative Forest Restoration: A Win-Win for People and Nature

The Ashland, Oregon-based Lomakatsi Restoration Project was founded in 1995 with the mission of restoring ecosystems and the sustainability of communities, cultures and economies throughout Oregon and Northern California. Lomakatsi has implemented restoration projects across thousands of acres of forest and miles of stream with federal and state agencies, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, private landowners, and city and county governments. This presentation will share Lomakatsi’s holistic approach to ecological forest restoration, social equity, workforce development, and community partnerships.

In the face of climate change and the new reality of wildfire in the West, collaborative, community-based forest restoration is a proven solution to help protect communities and natural resources. Lomakatsi will share their model for leveraging federal and state agreements with local partnerships to build long-term, landscape-scale forest and watershed stewardship projects. These agreements can bring millions of federal dollars to help create fire-adapted ecosystems and communities, while supporting sustainable jobs and local economies. This hands-on stewardship approach enhances wildlife habitat and helps prepares the landscape for beneficial fire.

Lomakatsi will discuss the importance of meaningful engagement with Tribal Nations and tribal communities, and how ecological restoration—combined with indigenous fire knowledge—can help promote tribal sovereignty, support co-management, and protect cultural beneficial resources. They will also share a whole-communities planning approach to disaster preparedness, why cultural resource monitoring needs to be considered, and how workforce training and development opportunities are necessary to meet the growing need for a skilled restoration workforce.