Forest Bridges Historical Timeline

Forest Bridges is founded in Roseburg, Oregon, by three seasoned professionals with divergent conservation and forest industry viewpoints, who gave of their time and resources, meeting almost weekly to develop foundational Principles of Agreement for active conservation management of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) O&C and Public Domain lands. They also developed preliminary models for active conservation management.

A larger Board of Directors is recruited, engaging a wider circle for input to continue development of the Principles of Agreement for active conservation management of the BLM O&C Lands.

Forest Bridges becomes a 501(c)(3) and hires first staff including Forest Bridges Forest Policy Analyst, Sam Freedman, to research and write Dry and Moist Forest Active Conservation Management papers to support the PoAs. Co-founder James Ratzlaff passes away.

Rick Sohn volunteers to serve as Acting Forest Bridges Executive Director. Key, diverse funds – balanced across conservation and forest industry interests - are raised from individuals, companies, two counties, one Tribe, and several private foundations. Website is launched and policy papers continue to be drafted.

Denise Barrett is hired as Executive Director, bringing 30 years of collaborative leadership and management experience. Forest Bridges' scope is broadened to include the 500,000 acres of Controverted lands managed by the US Forest Service.

Forest Bridges becomes active working on barriers to prescribed fire use. Substantive comments are submitted to the BLM in the form of a proposed Active Conservation Management Alternative for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Public meetings commence in Roseburg to gain public feedback on the Principles of Agreement and Dry and Moist O&C forest Active Conservation Management proposals. Social networking is launched as a supplement to public meetings.

Forest Bridges submits an Active Conservation Management Proposal for the USDA Forest Service’s O&C Controverted Lands of western Oregon as part of the Northwest Forest Plan update process. Forest Bridges also provides substantive feedback to the Bureau of Land Management in response to their draft RMP/EIS for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, stating a case for a more intensive active management approach. Networking with US Congressional staff becomes active on several fronts.