In late May, a collection of photographers, naturalists, and forest advocates met up for a few days of exploring in one of those special places we celebrate and work to protect at Oregon Wild: Crabtree Valley.
The forests that grow in this sheltered valley are some of the oldest in western Oregon. Designated as a Research Natural Area and Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management, these 1,251 acres of ancient forest and wetlands could soon lose protections under the Trump administration’s proposed management plan revisions. Whether through direct or indirect means, an increase in logging and road development in and around Crabtree Valley could devastate the old-growth forest and habitat found here.
This wild forest is only still standing because of the persistent advocacy of the people who fell in love with it decades ago. In order to keep it standing, we figure we need more people to fall in love with it and advocate for ongoing protections for this and other forests threatened by policy and management direction to maximize the exploitation of public lands.
Our goal for these few days of exploration in Crabtree Valley was to document, celebrate, and gain inspiration from this incredible forest and also from a community of fellow forest lovers.
Together, explorers documented some of the biodiversity of the area through an iNaturalist project, captured images and videos that highlight the beauty of this place and the ways people interact with it, and enjoyed the peace (and late spring chill) of a night spent in a wild place.
One exciting outcome of the expedition was the production of an episode of the Rangers of the Lost Park podcast. Host Liz Crandall covers some background on Crabtree Valley and interviews some of the folks on the expedition about why ancient forests and public lands matter for our climate, well-being, and communities. Check it out with these links:
- YouTube – Full Video
- Spotify – Full Audio
- Apple Podcasts – Full Audio
- Follow on Instagram @rangersofthelostpark
For more about Crabtree Valley see also:
- Blog post: Crabtree Valley: Protecting ancient forests never gets old
- Suggested outing page with directions and a hike description
