Usal Conservation Easement Finalized: Largest Forest Conservation Easement in California Now Permanently Protects 50,000 AcresIn a historic moment for land conservation and community-based forestry, the Redwood Forest Foundation (RFF) has finalized the Usal Conservation Easement—the largest forest conservation easement in California history.Covering the entirety of the 50,000-acre Usal Redwood Forest, this easement ensures that the land will remain a working, restored, and protected forest in perpetuity. It's a landmark achievement not just for RFF, but for climate advocates, conservationists, and communities across the state who believe that forests can—and must—serve both ecological and human needs.This is more than preservation. It's a permanent commitment to balance: protecting biodiversity, producing sustainable timber, and empowering local communities for generations to come.What Is a Conservation Easement?A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of development and land use to preserve the land's ecological integrity. In the case of the Usal Redwood Forest, this easement ensures that:*The forest can never be subdivided or developed*Timber harvesting must remain sustainable and ecologically responsible*Sensitive habitats, watersheds, and cultural resources are protected in perpetuity*Public benefits such as wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and clean water are prioritizedA qualified conservation organization holds and enforces the easement, adding an extra layer of long-term accountability and transparency.A Decade in the MakingFinalizing the Usal Conservation Easement results from over a decade of work, including rigorous ecological assessments, stakeholder consultations, legal coordination, and public-private collaboration.The project was made possible through partnerships with:*State and federal conservation agencies*Mission-aligned funders who believe in the value of working forests*Local and Tribal stakeholders, whose voices and histories shaped the final protectionsTogether, these groups created a framework that balances ecological restoration, rural economic development, and cultural respect, preserving the land's values across generations.What This Means for California—and BeyondWith 50,000 acres now under permanent protection, the Usal Conservation Easement sets a new standard for large-scale forest conservation in California. It proves that it is possible to:*Conserve working forests at the landscape scale*Secure climate and biodiversity benefits through legal protection*Align conservation with sustainable timber economies*Empower communities to manage land locally and equitablyThis easement also strengthens California's climate strategy, protecting one of the state's most potent natural carbon sinks while supporting RFF's participation in the California Cap-and-Trade Program.It's a model that conservation leaders nationwide are now looking to replicate.What Stays the Same, and What's StrengthenedThe Usal Redwood Forest will continue to be:*Owned and managed by the Redwood Forest Foundation*Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) for responsible forestry*A site of ongoing ecological restoration, from salmon habitat to biochar*A home for community forestry, job creation, and youth engagementBut now, with the conservation easement finalized, all of this work is guaranteed to continue forever. The land's protections no longer depend on leadership transitions, economic pressures, or political will. They are woven into the legal fabric of the property itself.A Promise Made—and KeptThis easement fulfils the original vision that launched RFF back in 1997: that the redwoods can be owned, restored, and sustained by the people who live with and love them, not by corporations or extractive industries.It honors generations of care from Indigenous communities, forestry workers, conservationists, and local residents who have fought to keep this forest alive.And it offers future generations a rare and beautiful gift: a forest still standing, working, and wild.Be Part of This LegacyThe Usal Conservation Easement is just the beginning. RFF is now focused on:*Expanding restoration efforts across the forest*Increasing public access and educational programming*Supporting carbon and climate resilience projects*Strengthening regional conservation through partnerships and replicationYou can help sustain this vision by visiting RFF.org/conservation to learn more, support future projects, or become a partner in protecting what matters most.Because the best time to protect a forest was 50 years ago, the next best time is today, and forever.
