Sustainable Northwest

SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST BRINGS PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND INNOVATION TOGETHER SO THAT NATURE, LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES CAN THRIVE.

FORESTS: DECADES OF FIRE SUPRESSION AD LITIGATION OVER LOGGING HAVE LEFT DEGRADED FORESTS AND DYING TOWNS. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO INCREASE THE PACE AND SCALE OF REFORESTATION PROJECTS, AND CREATE JOBS THAT MAKE OUR FORESTS RESILIENT TO THE INCREASING THREAT OF ABNORMAL WILDFIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASE. SUSTAINABLE NOTHWEST HAS CHANGED THE CONVERSATION TO "JOBS FOR THE ENVIORNMENT" BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CREATE DURABLE SOLUTIONS THAT RESTORE OUR NORTHWEST FORESTS.

RANGELANDS: DECADES OF FIRE SUPRESSION HAVE ALLOWED WESTERN JUNIPER TO OVERTAKE RANGLEANDS, USING PRECIOUS WATER, AND DESTROYING HABITAT FOR SAGE, GROUSE, AND OTHER WILDLIFE. BY SUSTAINABLY HARVESTING WESTERN JUNIPER WE ARE RESTORING RANGELANDS TO THEIR NATURAL STATE, AND RETURNING MORE WATER AND A HEALTH WILDLIFE HABITAT TO THE HIGH DESERT.

ENERGY: IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL ENERGY SYSTEMS IN RURAL AREAS ARE OFTEN HAMPERED BY THE LACK OF COORDINATED PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS. WITH OUR ON-THE-GROUND PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST IS DEVELOPING LASTING SOLUTIONS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH.

MARKETS: SUSTAINABLE NORHTWEST BELIEVES THAT MARKET BASED APPROACHES ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND LONG LASTING STRATEGIES FO RESTORING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL ECONOMIES. FOR 10 YEARS WE HAVE HELPED WOOD PRODUCTS BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC) GROUP CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. THE GROUP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM MAKES OBTAINING FSC CERTIFICATION EASIER FOR MEMBERS BY REDUCING THEIR CERTIFICATION COST AND STAFF TIME, AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT.AS BUSINESS SEE THE VALUE OF REACHING CONSUMERS ASKING FOR FSC CERTIFIED WOOD, THEY ARE GETTING INVOLVED AND GETTING CERTIFIED.WATER: THE COMPETING NEEDS OF OUR CITIES, AGRICULTURE, FISH, AND ENERGY PRODUCTION HAVE LED TO WATER SCARCITY AND POLLUTION IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. EFFORTS TO ADDRESS WATER CHALLENGES IN RURAL AREAS ARE OFTEN HAMPERED BY PLANNING, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS. HISTORICALLY, THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN CONFLICT, LITIGATION, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THIS HAS LEFT OUR WATER-DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES IMPERILED.SPECIAL PROJECTS: AS AN ADAPTIVE AND INNOVATION NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST IS ALWAYS PUTTING FORTH NEW IDEA THAT ADDRESS NEW CHALLENGES OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES. SAME OF THESE EFFORTS CURRENTLY INCLUDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR OUR RURUAL COMMUNITY-BASED PARTHER ORGANIZATIONS; NETWORKING INTERESTED PARTIES TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT COMMUNTY OWNED FOREST OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES; AND PROVIDING A FORUM FOR POLICY AND RURAL LEADERS TO DISCUSS RESTORATION OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST'S LANDSCAPRE AND RURAL ECONOMIES.