ABSTRACT
The 17 community forests in northern California profiled in this chapter all esteem the eco-cultural over the timber values of their forests. They share many commonalities, but also some significant differences in several internal and external factors. Nine are owned by Native American tribes, two by the federal government, one by a County, and the remainder by NGOs. The Native American tribes profiled here have long-term objectives to regain control over ownership and management of their ancestral territory and to reinstitute aboriginal land management practices. In some cases, tribes have leveraged state and federal funds or have worked with NGOs to attain grants or loans to purchase additional forest lands. All 17 community-managed forests, while relatively small, present a clear contrast with the surrounding industrial forestry operations of all sizes and designs. Some of the forests have sold forest carbon offsets and others have sold conservation easements.
