Forest Restoration vs. Forest Degradation: How Can Communities Tell the Difference?

A Presentation by Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala

We are honored to welcome internationally renowned conservation scientist Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala to our community for a special public presentation focused on the future of Banner Forest.

Dr. DellaSala is the Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage and a global leader in forest conservation. His life’s work centers on protecting primary forests, restoring degraded ecosystems, and safeguarding biocultural diversity around the world. He is also a former President of the Society for Conservation Biology (North American Section) and the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Communities globally are struggling with decisions about forestry, restoration, and protection. Some want to preserve more forests (e.g., legacy forests) for their beauty and naturalness, others want more extraction for timber, and still others want well-intentioned restoration. So, how can communities decide what's ecologically appropriate restoration vs. what will degrade forests?

Kitsap County has over 11,000 acres of parkland in various forms of naturalness and degradation from logging and roads with the Banner Forest having high community visibility. I will present the latest conservation science on impacts associated with intense active management and how best to avoid those impacts by properly caring for forests by expanding protected areas and implementing ecologically appropriate restoration. 

In this timely and accessible presentation, Dr. DellaSala will share:

• Why Banner Forest is ecologically significant

• What is at stake with the County’s planned logging

• How science-based stewardship offers a responsible alternative

• Why the opportunity to protect this forest is narrowing

This event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from a leading voice in conservation science and to better understand how research, ecology, and community values intersect in decisions about forest management.

✨ This event is FREE and open to the public. All are encouraged to attend.

Event Details

📍 South Kitsap High School Gymnasium - 425 Mitchell Ave, Port Orchard, WA 98366

📅 Saturday, January 24

🕑 2:00 – 4:00 PM

⬇️ Download the poster (PDF Letter size), print it, and help spread the word.

Your presence matters. Protecting Banner Forest depends on informed, engaged communities and thoughtful, science-based decision-making.

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🔍 Learn More from Dr. DellaSala’s Work

For those who would like to explore the science behind this presentation in greater depth, Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala regularly shares research-based insights on forest ecology, conservation, and the impacts of logging through his work as Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage and as a contributor to The Revelator, an award-winning environmental journalism platform.

Recommended readings:

• Why “Active Management” Can Harm Forests https://therevelator.org/active-management-harms-forests/

• How Logging Continues to Threaten Northern Spotted Owls https://therevelator.org/logging-northern-spotted-owls/

These articles provide additional context for the themes explored in this presentation and illustrate why science-based stewardship is critical, both for Banner Forest and for forests worldwide.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. DellaSala and his work:

• Wild Heritage: https://wild-heritage.org/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-dellasala/