When we conserved and began managing the 7,200- acre Oregon van Eck Forest in 2002, the property was extremely young, homogenous plantations — over 90% Douglas-fir trees under 20 years old. This legacy of industrial forestry lacked natural diversity as well as resilience — be it to pests, disease or climate variability. Many core forest functions, from watershed to habitat, were lacking. Our challenge was to transform this simplified, vulnerable forest into a diverse, resilient, fully ecologically functioning and productive forest. Starting light, we removed about 20% of any given stand, reducing competition, opening the canopy and providing more resources to the remaining trees. The response was so vigorous that we were re-entering those stands within 10-15 years! We now routinely remove 30–40% of a stand, using variable-density thinning, as well as variable retention in some cases, to engender a longer lasting and more structurally complex response. There is more understory development and greater diversity and we can grow larger trees.

We’ve restored a natural species mix post-harvest, including hemlock, western red cedar, and spruce. Hardwoods are retained and thinned around, boosting diversity and structure, improving resilience and food sources for wildlife. We have created snags and large woody debris “surrogates” to enrich wildlife habitat, soil moisture and fertility. We are steadily restoring the forest to an uneven-aged, mixed-species mosaic that supports habitat and forest health, reduces risks and consistent provides economic return. We’ve harvested timber to frame almost 3,000 houses and chip for at least 800,000 reams of paper, all while quadrupling carbon stocks.

Timber harvest is our primary tool for restoration, moving monoculture and risk toward natural diversity and resilience, and ensuring sustained economic returns. PFT operates annually, working with trusted operators, like Shane Russell of ShaneCo, who know the property and our goals. “Working with The Pacific Forest Trust on the van Eck has truly transformed how we approach forest stewardship. Their vision helped us see that sustainable timber management and longterm conservation aren’t mutually exclusive — they’re actually complementary. It’s been very rewarding seeing firsthand the transformation of this timberland. We’ve been able to improve forest health, protect wildlife habitat, and maintain a viable timber operation.” This ecological management extends beyond the trees to include streams, wetlands, habitat and watershed functions. PFT has restored the forest’s aquatic systems, including more than 20 miles of fish-bearing tributaries to the Yaquina River. These efforts support seven listed fish species, including five salmon species and green sturgeon. Partnering with agencies and local organizations, we’ve improved fish passage, restored stream complexity, and revived tidal wetland functions in Poole and Flesher Sloughs — habitats reduced by over 95% statewide. Hundreds of new, larger culverts improving fish passage and reducing sediment have been installed. Next up are restoring beaver and the coastal giant salamander.

And it’s paying off. Biodiversity has rebounded, with returning birds, amphibians, and small mammals, and a thriving understory. Resilience to climate extremes is also clear: during the 2021 heat dome, while neighboring properties experienced scorch, the van Eck Forest was unaffected.

After 23 years of climate-resilient, adaptive stewardship, van Eck Oregon is a vibrant forest: resilient, dynamic, and productive. It’s now a proven model rooted in science, guided by pioneering vision, and sustained through partnership, inspiring others. As Shane puts it: “What we learned here, we’re now sharing with other local landowners — helping them apply the same principles to create resilient, productive forests that support both the environment and the rural economy.”