275,000 acres of protected lands.
35 YEARS.
a timeline to celebrate.
Forterra is proud of what we see in our beloved Northwest landscape: beautiful forests, working farms and wild habitats that nurture our heart and provide a sense of well-being, health and home.
These milestones are just a few highlights among 332 completed projects thus far. What will the future bring?
1989
Founded
A nimble organization is born in response to a future of continued, rapid growth with a vision of forests, habitats and people, all thriving in a beautiful landscape.
(Cascade Land Conservancy would later become Forterra)
1993
Soaring Eagle Regional Park
Forterra’s first land transaction, 640 acres of forest habitat in partnership with King County. This property would be the first to enhance the critical water flow of creeks, ponds and wetlands that form the Sammamish plateau watershed. In the following years, Patterson Creek, Hazel Wolf, Bear Lake and E. Lake Sammamish acquisitions would be added to this watery network.
1995
Morse Wildlife Preserve
First transaction in Pierce County. This 90-acre preserve features prairie, wetlands and higher elevation fir forests. Home to countless bird species and wildlife, this preserve provides research and educational experience to hundreds of visitors a year.
1995
Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve
A critical link in the Sammamish plateau watershed, this 116-acre preserve is rich in migrating bird habitat and all sorts of wildlife, while providing serious flood mitigation for the surrounding community.
1998
East Lake Sammamish Trail
Forterra becomes a railroad company to acquire BNSF railroad line on the east side of Lake Sammamish. A creative endeavor that ultimately connected miles of lakeside biking and walking trails.
1998-2001
Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie Valley
920 acres conserved from 1998-2001 through a series of transactions that added to the Middle Fork Natural Resources Conservation Area. An additional 20 acres was conserved in 2016.
2001
Snoqualmie Falls
Lois Sweet Dorman, Snoqualmie Tribal Elder, meets with Cascade Land Conservancy (later became Forterra) to shepherd creative negotiations resulting in preserving 3,400 acres of timberland slated for development next to the pristine and culturally valuable Snoqualmie Falls.
2003-2006
Cedar River Estuary
1023 acres of estuary, uplands, and forested bluffs at the mouth of the Cedar River was conserved in partnership with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, buffering the sensitive estuary habitat on North Willapa Bay.
2004
Snoqualmie Forest
Worked with other organizations throughout WA to secure a conservation easement for 90,000 acres of working forest that services the needs of local businesses, while preserving the interests of the surrounding community.
2004
Cascade Agenda
A guiding plan that envisions a future of stewarded landscapes, habitats, farms and cities and demands action and innovation now to secure that future.
2004
Duwamish Hill Preserve
After 20 years of collaboration with city partners and community volunteers, this 11-acre preserve opened in 2010. A success story that begins with a dump site and ends with a cultural interpretive space, art, trail system and outdoor classroom. The nearby riverfront area has ancient fishing weirs and Native canoe landing areas that are significant to the Duwamish and Muckleshoot Tribes.
2005-2017
I-90 Wildlife Corridor
3,845 total acres preserved on 11 separate properties provide 407 acres of critical habitat connectivity for migrating wildlife crossing I-90. Created in partnership with Washington Department of Transportation, multiple other governmental agencies and non-profit organizations.
2006-2008
Carbon River Projects
8,304 acres of forestland conserved in the Carbon River Valley, including 168 acres of old growth forest for the Mt. Rainier National Park expansion.
2009
Hardscrabble Mountain
Pearl Jam and Soundgarden turn to Forterra to help save the beauty of Hardscrabble Mountain from being a mine site.
2009
Transfer Development Rights (TDR)
TDR is a market-based tool that promotes balanced growth by transferring development rights from farmlands and forestlands to cities. Urban developers can purchase these rights for greater density than would otherwise be allowed.
2010-2012
Evergreen Carbon Capture, ECC
Forterra creates Evergreen Carbon Capture (ECC) program to provide organizations and individuals a local option to help address climate change through native tree planting. This program evolved into the Evergreen Restoration Program in 2023.
2013
Teanaway Community Forest
Forterra worked with landowners, WA Department of Natural Resouces, and WA Department of Fish and Wildlife to secure 50,272 acres of working forest and recreational lands. It has become a national partnership model.Â
2013
Ampersand Live
From 2013 to 2020 Forterra hosts Ampersand LIVE events that celebrate Pacific Northwest art, storytelling, science, activism, dancing and more. These Town Hall performances and reverent gatherings brought the community together to highlight our connection to the Pacific NW.
2014-2022
Port Gamble
3,936 acres of forest and wetlands are protected around Port Gamble Bay. Part of an ongoing effort to conserve 6,700 acres in partnership with Kitsap County, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Pope Resources and coalition community groups.
2019
Cowiche Creek
At nearly 4,500 acres, this addition to the Oak Creek Wildlife Area protects a significant elk migration corridor as well as important riparian habitat for many species of upland birds and butterflies.Â
2022
Nettie Asberry House
Forterra and the Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (CWC) secures the purchase of the historic Dr. Nettie Asberry home in Tacoma’s Hilltop community. Tacoma CWC will help preserve the legacy of one of Washington’s most influential civil rights advocates and a pillar of the African American community in Tacoma.
2023
Evergreen Restoration Program
Evergreen Restoration Program embraces a holistic approach to improve climate resilience, restore critical habitat and provide clean water, air, and natural areas in Puget Sound.
Forterra is grateful to our partners for their crucial support in keeping the Pacific NW vibrant – where nature and people thrive. Thank you Delta.
Help us continue the timeline
Our accomplishments are always the result of relationships, partnerships and shared visions.
Our creative approach and partnerships make us an unconventional land trust. We are grateful for donors and supporters who value Forterra as a way to actively address climate change. Thank you for advocating for landscapes that support our cities, farms and healthy habitats for wildlife.Â
Make an impact in Year 35 and beyond. Support Forterra today.
