Mt. Adams' group tackling forestry issues inspired by New England trip

From the White Salmon Enterprise, October 2008

A group of community members from the area recently visited northern New England to learn how small, rural communities in that region have protected working forest land.
   The trip, organized by Mt. Adams Resource Stewards, involved 11 community members from Glenwood and Trout Lake, as well as representatives from Columbia Land Trust and Underwood Conservation District.
   As an organization dedicated to sustainable forestry and community development in the Mt. Adams Region, the Stewards' goal was to elevate the discussion of roles communities can play in protecting timber supplies, public access, wildlife habitat and open space.
   "I believe the trip was a hit for everyone involved. We had representation from the logging, ranching and conservation communities, and people were really inspired to see how these interests have come together in another region to protect something of great value to local people," reflected Jay McLaughlin, executive director of Mt. Adams Resource Stewards.
   McLaughlin added in describing the group's motivation, "We have seen one piece of industrial timber ground in the Glenwood Valley change hands five times in the past eight years, and most of the people I talk to agree that we need to start looking at what we can do."
   In particular, the group homed in on what have come to be called "community forests" -- working forests that small New England towns and non-profits bought up in an effort to promote sustainable forestry and prevent development that they feared would negatively impact their way of life.
   Three community forests in New Hampshire and Maine were visited ranging in size from 5,000 to 27,000 acres. The remarkable thing was that all of the communities visited had populations of fewer than 500 people, and were in some of the poorer counties in the region.
   One community of 150 people in eastern Maine raised $32 million in mostly private funds to buy their forest.
   Glenwood Community Council Chair and rancher Dan Hathaway reflected, "First thought was, It cannot be done. Second thought was, Wow. They did it."
   Jim White of Trout Lake commented that he, "came away with a real sense that these things can be done and an increased appreciation for how valuable they can be."
Mt. Adams Resource Stewards will be holding public meetings later this fall to continue the discussion on working forests in the Mt. Adams area and the role that community forests might play.
   More information can be obtained by contacting the Stewards at 364-4110.