History of Central Oregon Forest Stewardship Foundation

The Central Oregon Forest Stewardship Foundation was first established as a nonprofit in February 2011. At the time, our sole mission was to provide fund development, fiscal administration, and strategic leadership for collaborative forest restoration groups that aim to restore and steward forest resources on Central Oregon’s public and private lands, including the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project (DCFP) and the Ochoco Forest Restoration Collaborative (OFRC).

Since then we have expanded our ability to enhance the quality and quantity of forest restoration in Central Oregon. Now, in addition to supporting forest collaborative groups, COFSF seeks to advance innovation and leadership in forest restoration by connecting people to resources, expertise, and each other. We host peer-to-peer learning events and demonstration projects, and develop tools to enhance the effectiveness of collaborative efforts.

COFSF remains committed to integrating diverse stakeholders into collaborative efforts and using and promoting equitable and inclusive practices.

2000

Wildfires Ignite Collaboration

One of the worst wildfire seasons on record at the time sparks multiple small-scale collaborative efforts to address wildfire risk reduction, community safety, and forest health.

2009

Collaborative Efforts Unite

Congress appropriates $40 million dollars for collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forested landscapes under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP). Members of collaborative efforts such as the Fire Learning Network, COPWRR, and Project Wildfire jointly apply for and receive funding.

2010

Restoring the Deschutes Forest

Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project (DCFP) is formed and receives the first of 10 years of annual appropriations (roughly $1 million annual) to begin implementing the plan to restore forest and watershed resilience within the Central Oregon CFLRP landscape.

2011

Central Oregon Forest Stewardship

Awareness of the critical need for sustainable funding to support effective collaboration leads to the creation of the Central Oregon Forest Stewardship Foundation (COFSF) which was established as a nonprofit in February 2011 to serve as the fiscal sponsor for multiple collaborative efforts.

2012

A Need Arises in the Ochoco Forest

The Ochoco Restoration Forest Collaborative (OFRC) forms in 2012 to support effective and timely forest restoration on the Ochoco National Forest. This increases the regional need for funding to support effective collaborative efforts.

2015

Collaborative Discussion Tool

COFSF supports the development of the “Aspen Restoration and Social Agreements: An Introductory Guide for Forest Collaboratives in Central and Eastern Oregon”, a tool that models the integration of social values and science in development of consensus-based Zones of Agreement.

2016

Expanding the COFSF Mission

The COFSF Board launches a process to review and revise the Foundation’s mission and vision to reflect the growth of forest focused collaboration in central Oregon as well as the increasing regional needs for forest restoration and stewardship.

2016

Dry Forest Implementation Efficiencies Workshop

COFSF hosts its first workshop on Dry Forest Implementation Efficiencies, attended by over 100 practitioners. (Read the Workshop proceedings documents here).

2017

Forest Service’s Chief’s Honor Award

Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project (DCFP) receives the Chief’s Honor Award and is publicly recognized for its outstanding accomplishments that contribute to the Forest Service’s strategic goals. (Read the Press Release here).

2018

Dry Forest Restoration on Steep Terrain Workshop

COFSF hosts a peer-to-peer learning event engaging practitioners in a discussion about opportunities and challenges related to restoring dry forests on steep terrain.

2019

Demonstration of Dry Forest Restoration on Steep Terrain

COFSF showcased modern harvester and forwarder equipment restoring dry forests on steep terrain, supporting discussions about opportunities and barriers to restoration on slopes greater than 35%.

2020

Steep Terrain Pilot Project

COFSF convenes the Dry Forest Restoration on Steep Terrain Working Group, developing a protocol for conducting a pilot project to collect data on impacts of ground-based harvesting on dry-side soils.