Oregon WildBlog

Fire is elemental, fire is powerful, fire can and does destroy homes. But does fire destroy our forests? What happens when forests are allowed to regrow naturally?

Late last month we alerted you to post-fire logging projects moving forward across western Oregon, and in particular Bureau of Land Management forests in the McKenzie and North Umpqua River watersheds. As the new year advances, so too will these and other logging proposals in sensitive burned landscapes.

The carbon emissions from fire are less worrisome than you might think.

Tips and suggestions on snowshoeing, everything from safety to gear to picking the most scenic trails.

Oregon's glaciers are retreating. What does this mean, and what can we do about it?

Written by Meg Sczyrba

Learn more about this incredible species and how you can advocate for its recovery.

Celebrate Oregon's beautiful wild rivers and the art of conservation with painter Robin Hostick!

UPDATE: Comment period extended to November 29th!

Just south of the Umpqua River in the central Oregon Coast Range, the 82,000-acre Elliott State Forest  is home to the only significant old-growth forest remaining on state-owned lands in Oregon. State forests like the Elliott were long tied to the Common School Fund, ensuring an unfortunate conflict between producing revenue from logging and the conservation of old-growth dependent wildlife and salmon.

My first introduction to Oregon’s forests came when I was in school at Oregon State University. The McDonald and Dunn Forests offered an easy escape from the stress of grad school and seemingly endless winter drizzle — and the old growth loop with its dense canopy was a welcome outdoor break rain or shine.