Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) was just one of eight groups to receive a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to create a community forest on a portion of Ueland Tree Farm near Green Mountain. The grant was $600,000. The Foundation has engaged with GPC and offered support as they work to restore and preserve the land for public benefit. The land abuts the southern border of the Preserve and would expand the conservation area we’ve been restoring for decades.
The Kitsap Sun has a great article on the work underway. The community forest is modeled after other successful projects like the Newberry Forest near Silverdale and The Divide in North Kitsap, the article notes.
“These forestlands adjacent to the City of Bremerton and its Urban Growth Area are well-suited for the community forest model, which will help to preserve critical habitat and wildlife corridors, protect the existing trail system for continued public recreation, and engage local community members and partners in forest management planning,” Monica Montgomery, conservations projects manager for GPC, told The Kitsap Sun about the project.
This effort will help make our contiguous forestlands more wildfire resistant and resilient, as well as provide more wildlife habitat. And, it will give our communities additional access to recreate and enjoy the outdoors. We are excited to see where this project goes and learn more about their plans for the land!
– Jeff Wirtz, Vice President