EFM transfers 3,500 acres to conservation land, creating conservation corridor | New

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EFM is pleased to announce the sale of over 3,500 acres of coastal forest land to the North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC), creating the “Rainforest Reserve”, a unique 32 square mile land-sea corridor. that will permanently conserve critical habitat for a wide range of wildlife and plant species, to help them adapt to a changing world, while supporting surrounding communities.

“The creation of the Rainforest Reserve is a huge contribution to the people of Oregon, who will benefit from this scenic backdrop to some of Oregon’s most beloved beaches and have the opportunity to hike and enjoy. of this spectacular and unique landscape, as well as the many plants and animals, including endemic species, that inhabit the rainforest reserve, “said Bettina von Hagen, CEO of EFM.” We congratulate the NCLC for his vision, his perseverance and his tenacity in making this 50-year vision a reality. ”

In November 2016, EFM acquired approximately 5,000 acres of Oregon coastal forest land, on behalf of its investors, from a private forest products company. The property, now known as Onion Peak Holdings, sits between Tillamook Head and Nehalem Bay and shares a border with beloved Oswald West State Park. This area has been identified by the NCLC as an exceptional habitat characterized by rocky peaks rising sharply from the ocean to over 3,000 feet, creating spectacular views and supporting a compressed ecosystem unlike anywhere else in Oregon.

In recognition of the property’s unique habitat, its proximity to a state park, and its importance to local drinking water, EFM reached an agreement in 2016 to sell approximately 3,500 acres of the property to NCLC in five years to give them the time to raise the money to buy the property. The North Coast Land Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust, working since 1986 to conserve and connect the landscape of the Oregon coast, and has developed a vision for the coastal edge as a corridor of coastal watersheds, between two state parks, conserved to both benefit wildlife and protect drinking water.

“Bringing this land into conservation allows us to unlock its future,” said Katie Voelke, Executive Director of the NCLC. “It is a living, breathing, fluid and evolving place. Conservation allows it to live its most dynamic and abundant life. It is a living museum, a living laboratory, a rare and precious place on a global scale, and it is the backdrop of our community. Conserving this land gives us all a chance to have a good relationship with the land and the people it supports.

This real estate sale is the most recent example of what EFM’s success looks like. EFM’s goal is to identify high priority acquisition targets with unique landscape attributes, move forests to Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC®) management, carry out restoration projects to improve and protect landscapes, and move to permanent conservation-oriented owners. EFM either transferred over 57,000 acres to conservation-conscious tribes, state agencies and other landowners or protected those acres with permanent easements, sequestered 6.6 million tonnes of carbon, and made deals with General Motors and Nike to offset their emissions.

During the ownership, EFM managed this property as a working forest in accordance with FSC® principles and standards. EFM’s forest management approach values ​​the full range of forest products and services and aims to integrate timber production and the enhancement of valuable ecosystem services such as drinking water, wildlife habitat and forest storage. carbon.

The remaining 1,500 acres are in the process of being acquired by the Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply District, which worked closely with the NCLC to purchase the woodlots for the establishment of a community forest and a protected watershed. This Arch Cape Forest watershed project received funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Forest Legacy program of the US Forest Service to achieve its goal of providing clean, safe and affordable drinking water to residents. and visitors to Arch Cape and to create a community-owned working forest.

EFM invests in natural climate solutions across the Americas to create long-term financial value and sustainable environmental and social impact. Our award-winning investment funds enable landscapes to transition towards climate-smart forestry and more equitable and permanent forms of land tenure. EFM manages approximately 125,000 acres under FSC-certified management in the western United States and has approximately $ 215 million in private capital under management and advice. Learn more about www.efmi.com

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