SB Partner: KEC presents "The Future of Kitsap's Forests"

Everyone is welcome! Bring your favorites (cookies, desserts) to share.

Speakers are Frank Stricklin, founder and past president of Friends of Newberry Hill Heritage Park;  Sue DeArman, KEC member and naturalist photographer; and Connie Reckord, program director of preservation, Friends of Miller Bay.

The main presenter, Frank Stricklin, is a WSU Stream Steward, native plant advisor, forest steward, and lifelong learner. He begins our series on ecological forest restoration. But first, a little background on the history of our wooded landscape...

In the 1850s, the forests of the Kitsap Peninsula, and indeed the whole Pacific Northwest, began a dramatic transformation. In just 150 years, the original old-growth forests, integral to the indigenous tribes of the region for centuries, had been replaced by managed monoculture plantations of densely planted Douglas Fir, grown as a commercial crop on a tight rotation. In the face of current environmental challenges, we are now embarking on a new transformation aimed at restoring healthier, more natural forest conditions, with increased diversification to promote sustainability and enhance wildlife habitats. Learn more as we explore the future of Kitsap's forests.