Natural, low-intensity fires burning every 10 to 25 years kept our mid and lower elevation forests healthy for millennia. In fact, this kind of fire is essential for certain plants and wildlife, for cycling nutrients and for sustaining a healthy forest ecosystem. After nearly a century of aggressively fighting to keep fire out, our forests […]
Here’s what some of our Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project Steering Committee members have to say about why they invest so much time in this project: One of the greatest dividends of this willingness to collaborate is the development of understanding and respectful relationships between people that were previously at tensioned odds. And it is the […]
The Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project is working to put mistrust, and past conflict behind us—and pick up the quality, pace and scale of forest restoration projects in the dry fire-adapted forests of Central Oregon. Our diverse membership brings a full range of community values and interests to the table. Together we promote outcomes such as […]
For almost a decade, members of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project have been working towards improving the health of the national forest lands in Central Oregon, increasing resiliency to threats like wildfire, drought, and insect outbreaks. With input from collaborative team members including recreation enthusiasts, timber industry representatives, environmentalists, and local government officials, we’re implementing […]
Posted April 1, 2022: We are presently accepting applications for two positions to support the work of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project. DCFP Administrative Assistant position [PDF download] DCFP Program Manager position [PDF download] Please direct all related questions to our partners at the Central Oregon Forest Stewardship Foundation: [email protected] View all posts by: Deschutes […]
You may have noticed some changes occurring in the forests around Bend, Sisters, Sunriver and La Pine, Oregon. Carefully planned thinning, mowing, and prescribed burning create the conditions our forests need to thrive, and create better places for our native wildlife. This important work also reduces fuels, which could potentially feed the type of extreme […]
Meet the faces of forest restoration. People who live here, play here and love it here. Biologists, environmentalists, loggers, ecologists, and trail stewards. Runners, cyclists, hikers and paddlers. Your fellow community members and local forest professionals are hard at work, coming together to learn about the best available science and practices. We strive to find […]
Contributed by our partners at Project Wildfire Thanks to an unfortunately warm and dry spring, Central Oregon’s summer temperatures are predicted to be hotter and drier than previous conditions. While wildfire season may be off to a slow start, that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear, yet. The bulk of fire activity generally occurs during […]
Once the ignitions crews have worked their way across the prescribed burn unit and holding crews have secured the perimeter, the Burn Boss notifies fire dispatch that the prescribed fire is completed. But what happens after the fire? How do fire professionals make sure everything remains under control after a prescribed fire is completed? The […]
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Do you smell smoke around Central Oregon? Forest management is underway near Bend, Sisters, Sunriver and surrounding areas. Prescribed burns reduce the risk of wildfire and keep our communities safer. They make our forests healthier and create homes for a greater diversity of wildlife. We are accepting a little smoke now to make our forests […]
Megafires, individual fires that burn more than 100,000 acres, are on the rise in the western United States — the direct result of unintentional yet massive changes we’ve brought to the forests through a century of misguided management. What steps can we take to avoid further destruction? Forest ecologist Paul Hessburg confronts some tough truths […]
We know we are not alone in our sorrow and shock over the staggering loss of lives and property due to the wildfires ravaging Oregon and the west coast. Our thoughts and heartfelt support go out to everyone impacted by the wildfires and for the personnel responding to the emergency. While there are no active […]
Our low elevation Central Oregon dry forests need fire for health and resilience into the future. Our friends and neighbors need the security of knowing their home, neighborhood and community will be ready for wildfires. That’s why the Deschutes National Forest, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Deschutes County, OSU-Extension and Walker Ranger […]
