Western Oregon state forests span 634,000 acres, the majority of which comprise the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests located between Portland, Oregon, and the Pacific Ocean. For decades, the region has been managed for industrial timber production. Wild Salmon Center is continuing to push for approval of the State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan that will protect 315,000 acres in dedicated Habitat Conservation Areas and Riparian Conservation Areas across Oregon’s North Coast, balancing high standards for clean water, fish, and wildlife with more ecologically sustainable timber harvest over the next 75 years.
This rich, temperate ecosystem is a center of biodiversity, home to over seventeen endangered or at-risk species, and is part of one of the most important ecosystems for carbon sequestration. The existence of wild salmon ensures the health of rivers and forests, providing nutrients that support a diverse range of wildlife and sustaining jobs, economies, and Indigenous traditions that have existed for millennia. Home to five world-class wild salmon and steelhead rivers, this region draws salmon and steelhead anglers from around the country and provides excellent opportunities for hiking, hunting, biking, and camping. All told, the area drives a massive $550 million dollar outdoor economy and provides clean drinking water for over 500,000 Oregonians.
