Newberry Woods Community Forest
With stunning views of Hood Canal, the Newberry Woods Community Forest protects 1.5 miles of the salmon-bearing Little Anderson Creek, and is home to trees that are over 100 years old. Just north of the Newberry Hill Heritage Park, this 202-acre preserve will protect the vital wildlife corridor to Hood Canal and provide habitat for a multitude of birds and other native wildlife. Great Peninsula Conservancy acquired the preserve in October 2022 with funding from the USDA’s Community Forest Program, Kitsap County Conservation Futures, and the U.S. Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program. Thanks to a generous donation by the landowners, a section of the forest will be named the Lindstrom Family Preserve.
Community Forests
Community forests have many definitions, but broadly speaking, they are managed to provide a community benefit. As such, Newberry Woods Community Forest prioritizes guidance by the community to help inform its purpose and management.
Great Peninsula Conservancy held forest tours and community meetings in January and February of 2023 to help define the long-term vision of the Newberry Woods Community Forest. These events explored the relationship of the community to this forest and uncovered the forest’s values for both people and wildlife. As we continue to engage with the public, we will identify dynamic management goals for the forest that will support the needs of the community, including recreation and trail use, habitat restoration, education, and climate resilience. To do this GPC is creating a Community Forest Advisory Team in the latter half of 2023.
The outcomes of our community meetings are available for your review as a pdf in the links below.
Community Forest Advisory Team
The purpose of the Community Forest Advisory Team (CFAT) is to provide input, and advice, on the various activities and management decisions for Newberry Woods Community Forest (NWCF); retain community support; and bring the voices of the community to the long-term management and use of NWCF. The CFAT works under the guidance of GPC staff and the GPC Stewardship Committee, and is a small team composed of community members and professionals with direct connection to the Newberry Woods community, GPC’s working region, and/or various activities and management that will take place in NWCF. The Community Forest Advisory Team has been convened for 2023, however if you are interested in learning more, you can email Micaela Petrini, Stewardship Coordinator, at micaela@greatpeninsula.org or submit your information via the form below, which is checked quarterly.
Public Access
GPC is in the process of planning public access to this preserve. Until planning is finalized, the public is allowed to use the preserve for hiking and wildlife viewing only. If you’re interested in visiting this community forest with our staff, check out our events page and join us for an upcoming event. For more information on public access restrictions and planning, see the Interim Plan below.
Interim Plan
The Interim Plan outlines GPC’s timeline and policies regarding public access, community engagement, and forest management planning, for the year 2023. Once convened, the Community Forest Advisory Team will provide valuable input as we think about the short- and long-term management of all aspects of NWCF. The Interim Plan is available for your review as a pdf in the link below.
Project Partners
Kitsap County Conservation Futures
Lindstrom Family
USDA’s Community Forest Program
U.S. Navy REPI Program
Related News
“Great Peninsula Conservancy partners with Navy to buy and protect forest near Bangor,” Kitsap Sun, April 2023
