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Stewardship Protocols for Encampments on Conservation Lands

Stewardship Protocols for Encampments on Conservation Lands. Stu Watson – Lands Manager. Forterra Lands Portfolio. 50 properties 95 CEs 16,000 acres 13 counties 5 properties with on-going encampment issues. What Should We Do?. Encampments are an unavoidable feature of the landscape

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Stewardship Protocols for Encampments on Conservation Lands

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  1. Stewardship Protocols for Encampments on Conservation Lands Stu Watson – Lands Manager

  2. Forterra Lands Portfolio • 50 properties • 95 CEs • 16,000 acres • 13 counties • 5 properties with on-going encampment issues

  3. What Should We Do? • Encampments are an unavoidable feature of the landscape • How do we address this issue in a humane, sustainable, and effective manner? • Should untrained staff enter encampments? • Is training available? • What to do about volunteers? • How to handle hazardous waste?

  4. The Costs of Encampments • Unsafe and inhumane for campers • Social costs • Public health & safety; dissuade public use/enjoyment of green spaces • Environmental costs • Water quality; vegetation damage; soil compaction; hazardous waste

  5. The Costs of Encampments (cont.) • Staff time • 100+ hours managing 1 encampment • Economic costs • Clean up & prevention extremely expensive • Money lost from other efforts at Forterra (ex. affordable housing projects) • Equivalent of 20 WCC restoration days • 3% of lands portfolio is demanding 20% of resources (time & budget)

  6. What Has Worked • Communicating with campers • Be KIND • Be HONEST

  7. What Has Worked (cont.) • Work with local law enforcement • If they have specialized homelessness unit • Work with social services • Clean up abandoned camp debris • Prevent vehicle access

  8. What Not To Do • Removing campers and encampments without a plan • Fencing ($30/linear foot) • Forterra is not comfortable with volunteer patrol or clean up

  9. Prevention and Dissuasion • Increase monitoring visits (bi-weekly at minimum) • Volunteer patrol • Encourage responsible public use of property • Work with local businesses and community members

  10. Needs & Other Ideas • County hotline phone number • Training for enviro/restoration staff & volunteers • Provide trash receptacles and sharps containers? • Homeless folks as land stewards • Sanctioned tiny home villages • Both: provide housing and a job on conservation corps Stu Watson – Lands Manager, Forterra swatson@Forterra.org 206-905-6954

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