taghkanic community forest committee & stewards
The Taghkanic Community Forest
The Community Forest Committee plans for and stewards the Taghkanic Community Forest in partnership with community members, the Columbia Land Conservancy, and relevant experts. The Committee develops the vision, goals, site-specific rules, and a Community Forest Management Plan, and serves as the primary stewardship oversight body accountable to the CLC Board of Trustees.
Committee structure
The Committee consists of 8–10 voting members, including one CLC Board Member, and is supported by a CLC Staff Liaison (non-voting). Members serve one-year terms and may be re-nominated annually for up to seven consecutive years. All positions are voluntary.
Responsibilities
- Work in partnership with CLC to manage the property towards agreed-upon goals
- Develop and implement a property-specific management plan to build forest health and resiliency through restoration and active management
- Maintains and enhances diverse recreation opportunities
- Develop relationships with the community, including local youth groups, to achieve goals
- Research grants and other outside funding opportunities
- Manage annual budget as allocated and approved by the CLC Board
- Work closely with the land stewards to monitor the property, assist with projects, attend volunteer workdays, and public events
- Maintain a healthy Committee via updates to bylaws and policies to be approved by the CLC Board
- Increases public awareness of and appreciation for the Community Forest
Current Committee Members
Betsy Albert, Committee Chair
Cara Boyle, CLC Board Liaison
Patrick Knapp, CLC Staff Liaison
Brandon Dale
Helen Forgione
Larry Kadish
Eve Kaplan
Linda Reardon
Gary Siegel
Gretchen Stevens
Gregg Whalin
Get involved
- Learn about what’s happening next at the Taghkanic Community Forest
- Access Taghkanic Community Forest planning documents
- Report volunteer hours
- Help CLC recognize your hard work! Make sure you report any hours you spend on volunteering that aren’t part of an organized event. Tracking hours helps secure grant funding and demonstrate community support.
- Join the next cohort of Land Stewards
- Under the guidance of the Community Forest Committee and CLC Staff Liaison, land stewards will help maintain the Community Forest and participate in other activities that further the Committee’s mission.