LATEST NEWS

against a backdrop of blackened trees, new lime green growth springs forth from the forest floorLiving in a Land of Fire
12/01/2020

Only you can prepare for fire resilient communities!

...read more

Bark volunteer standing in the middle of a wetland, chartreuse in color on a clear sunny day A Thriving Ecosytem
11/19/2020

We are all part of a larger ecosystem and the outcomes that it produces. Every moment that we are not actively working to change it is also a moment in which we are complicit in its sweeping inertia....read more

Action Alert: Urge ODFW to restore Mt. Hood's Beavers!
11/11/2020

Please take a moment to urge the Commission to vote in favor of initiating the rulemaking process to increase protections for beavers on federal lands in Oregon....read more

Group of Bark volunteers at an event to Free Mt. HoodActivated by Uncertainty
11/05/2020

We can never know exactly what challenge awaits us, yet we are none-the-less responsible for providing the effort, vision, and adaptability to shape change for the better....read more

The Management Plan for Mt. Hood National Forest was adopted in 1990 and has not been updated since then. This document guides every decision that the Forest Service makes.The Need for Change
11/02/2020

The way that we view our forests and the principles guiding decisions that are made about them need to fundamentally change. We cannot keep painting over the cracks in the foundation....read more

When you imagine the future of this region, what do you see?
10/29/2020

Bark relies on people like you who value our proactive and on-the-ground approaches and choose to invest in the future of Mt. Hood National Forest....read more

Penny at Lost Creek near Horseshoe RidgeACTION ALERT: Support Local Voices on Zigzag Logging Proposal
10/08/2020

We are Laura, Penny, Russell, Mitch and Georgenne. Like you, we love Mt. Hood and consider it our responsibility to be informed and take action for the protection of the forests, waters, and wildlife with whom we share the landscape. ...read more

aerial photo of Riverside Fire area, smoke rising out of the coniferous canopyRiverside Fire Information Resources
10/02/2020

The Clackamas River watershed is a favorite place for many Barkers — we have hiked, camped, fished, rafted, groundtruthed all over this region, from Eagle Creek to the Collawash. And now it has changed.  As the immediate threat to homes and communities from the Riverside Fire has subsided, we are trying to understand where it burned, how it burned, and what this will mean for the forest of the future.  Bark has been gathering information and resources to help answer these questions, and we'd like to share a few with you.  As we learn more, we'll share more! ...read more

Bark Alert: Report from the Field
09/24/2020

Between the pandemic and the fires, this is a difficult time for many Barkers. For some, homes and loved ones have been lost, and for many, the places that we treasure are changing significantly. It seems many of us are learning a lot about grief this year. While I am sad that we can’t currently be together in the forest, I want to take a few moments to celebrate Bark’s work and invite you to join us as we continue to grow and adapt with these new landscapes. ...read more

smoky view of st. johns neighborhood street in portland, oregon. cars, homes, trees, and power lines are obscured through the gray blanket of hazeBark Alert: Fire Ecology, Smoke Safety + Community Resources
09/17/2020

Through the haze, we want to offer some clarity on what we know about the fire in Oregon’s forests and to share resources on what we can all do right away to protect ourselves and to help those with the greatest need right now....read more

Gnarl Ridge fire near Tilly Jane areaFire Policy
09/12/2020

Read Bark's Fire Policy, background information, and fire science resources.

You can read an abbreviated version of Bark's Fire Policy here and find the full policy including background information and a list of fire science resources in the document linked below. ...read more

group of volunteers surveying new growth in a previous burn area from the 36 Pit fire in 2014. Foreground shows sprigs of bright new green against the rocky soil.Bark Alert: Learning Lessons from the Land
09/10/2020

As I write, Mt. Hood National Forest is burning. Several new fires are burning through the Clackamas River Ranger District and information is changing by the minute. But, since August 17th, I’ve had my eyes on the White River Fire on the east side of Mt. Hood National Forest....read more

Are you ready to pick up Bark’s tools for forest defense?
09/03/2020

Rad◦i◦cle {the first root of a seedling to emerge during germination} is Bark’s free Activist Training program that empowers individuals to learn valuable skills in forest ecology, public lands advocacy, and community organizing.
The series starts tonight! Join us!
...read more

view on Trillium Lake from a bright blue kayak. Vista faces the pine-ridged shore line on a sunny dayAction Alert: Zigzag Timber Sale Comments are Due Next Monday
08/04/2020

The Mt. Hood Forest Service is again under pressure to meet rising timber volume quotas by logging forests in the headwaters of the Sandy and Salmon river watersheds. Approximately 2,013 acres would be logged to meet the goals of the "Zigzag Integrated Resource Project". The Forest Service is accepting public comment on the project’s draft Environmental Assessment (EA or PA) until August 10th (next Monday!). ...read more

Zigzag Timber Sale Public Comment Writing Resources
07/24/2020

Public comment periods are required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires...read more

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