The 2016 Ashland Forest Plan is a strategic plan created by the Ashland Forest Lands Commission and City Staff as an update of the 1992 Ashland Forest Plan. The plan governs 1,131 acres of City and Parks Commission managed forests in and around the Ashland City limits. Since 1992, many of the goals and objectives have been accomplished, or are in progress.
Some notable accomplishments include:
Over 500 acres of wildfire hazard reduced in and around the City watershed and near homes and infrastructure.
Forest health and restoration needs addressed on over 150 acres through commercial thinning, including the 2004 helicopter tree thinning project.
Established a controlled underburning program to continually reintroduce the natural role of fire in our fire dependent ecosystem.
The Forest Lands Commission has sponsored public tours and education for hundreds of residents to connect with their municipal forests.
Convened the 2004 Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan, leading to the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project, a 7,600 acre effort that addresses wildfire risk in the Ashland Watershed and adjacent lands.