A Legacy of Forest Stewardship: Conserving the Wagner Forest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/6/23

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Bayside, CA – The Northcoast Regional Land Trust (NRLT) is pleased to announce the completion of the Wagner Forest Conservation Easement in Southern Humboldt County. This conservation easement permanently conserves over 3,300 acres of working forestland in the South Fork Eel River watershed.The easement solidifies the legacy of the Wagner family after more than a century of stewardship on the property. Elizabeth Wagner Penn, a member of the Wagner family, shared her enthusiasm for the project, “As one of the stewards of the property I am pleased to know the legacy of our family ranch will remain together forever and help the environment, forest and wildlife thrive and grow.”

With the forest now being managed by the sixth generation, the family is committed to continuing their legacy of responsible forest management, habitat restoration, and family tradition. The conservation easement held by the Northcoast Regional Land Trust helps make these goals possible by keeping this tract of forestland whole, restricting development, and designating nearly 600 acres (approximately 17% of the property) as a forest reserve that will increase protections within critical riparian areas and promote mature forest habitat.

From a landscape connectivity standpoint, completion of the Wagner Forest easement creates a contiguous block of privately conserved forestland of over 15,000 acres which includes the adjacent Marshall Ranch Conservation Easement, held by the California Rangeland Trust, and the Sproul Creek Conservation Easement, held by NRLT. These privately conserved holdings add to over 120,000 acres of protected public lands stretching inland from the Pacific Ocean in southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino Counties. The easement will also support continued partnership with agencies and organizations to move forward projects that protect and enhance streamflow in creeks, as well as reestablish native conifers and safeguard old growth redwood trees on the property.

This project is made possible thanks to the Wagner family, CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Proposition 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program. The Wagner Forest Conservation Easement is also part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.