5 FOCUS - FALL 2025 This spring, the College of Forestry completed its most significant research forest acquisition in more than 60 years — the Tualatin Mountain Forest. The 3,110-acre working forest, just 10 miles west of downtown Portland, is the largest remaining contiguous block of undeveloped land in the Tualatin Mountain range. Valued at $27 million, the acquisition was made possible at no cost to OSU through the leadership of the Trust for Public Land, Metro Regional Government, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and other partners. The forest, which was industrially managed for decades prior to OSU’s acquisition, is predominately made up of even-aged Douglasfir stands, with most trees between 5 and 35 years old. Moving forward it will be conserved and stewarded as a working research forest — supporting long-term research, education and access to nature for generations to come. “Our vision for this new research forest is all about access — to nature, to learning, to the experience of managed forests,” said Tom DeLuca, dean of the College of Forestry. “Through the Tualatin, we’ll have the opportunity to help urban communities reconnect with the landscapes that provide the wood and natural resources we use every day, while advancing research and expanding nature-based educational programming for Portland-area youth.” Portland is nationally known for its farm-totable food culture — a city where it’s expected you know where your food comes from. Yet for many urban residents in Oregon and beyond, the source of the wood table that food is served on is often overlooked. That’s not surprising, as forest management and timber production typically happen out of view, in rural areas far from population centers. This new research forest brings that story much closer to home. The Tualatin Mountain Forest will offer the chance to “know your forester” — to walk among actively managed forests, see sustainable stewardship in action, and better understand the connection between natural resource use and conservation. “Forest management, done properly, can produce the sustainable materials we need while also supporting biodiversity, climate goals and human health,” DeLuca said. “And we know that access to nature — especially for young people — plays a vital role in wellbeing and lifelong learning.” One of OSU’s research and demonstration priorities will be restoring species and structural diversity across the landscape — offering models for more resilient, ecologically complex forests after decades of plantation-style management. The forest will also serve as a living laboratory for research on sustainable forestry, forest restoration, carbon sequestration, water quality and wildfire risk reduction. It will expand place-based learning opportunities as well — from hands-on research and applied science to K–12 nature-based education and community outreach. Although the forest is not yet open to the general public, the College of Forestry is working with partners to develop a phased recreation plan and invest in infrastructure that supports safety, inclusion and ecological integrity, balanced with research and forest management objectives. Broader public access is expected to begin in 2027. “As the McDonald Research Forest has done in Corvallis for nearly a century, the Tualatin Mountain Forest will provide a landscape for immersive learning — offering Portland-area students opportunities to connect with nature and better understand the role actively managed forests play in addressing climate change, protecting clean water and producing the wood products we all rely on,” DeLuca said. The Tualatin Mountain Forest is where education, conservation and access come together — and where the future of forestry can grow. BRINGING FOREST STEWARDSHIP CLOSER TO PORTLAND Photo credit: Nick Grier, Trust for Public Lands
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