On a dewy October morning, a half-dozen Islands Conservation Corps (ICC) crew members joined SJPT staff in lugging chainsaws and water backpacks to the Hunter Preserve on San Juan Island. Their task for the day? Forest thinning and pile burns: a practice that ICC is well-trained in and has been assisting Preservation Trust staff with.
Planning and Executing Prescribed Burns for Forest Health
Before any flames were lit, the project required weeks of preparation, permits from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and coordination with San Juan Island Fire and Rescue. Once prepared, the team ignited small piles of thinned conifer material to improve forest health and reduce fuel loads. In the coming months, SJPT staff will return to plant wildflowers and native grasses that support a more diverse, open woodland habitat.
Following Indigenous Land Management: Fire’s Historical Role
Coast Salish peoples in the San Juans have used fire for thousands of years to shape landscapes and encourage the growth of culturally significant foods like camas, a native flower with a nutritious, starchy bulb. Their intentional burns helped clear competing vegetation, recycle nutrients, and stimulate new growth. Although our forest management actions are not a substitute for traditional stewardship practices, that long-standing knowledge continues to inspire our work as we learn to reintroduce the fire cycles these forests evolved with. We are also committed to seeking meaningful opportunities for collaboration with Tribal partners in this important work.
SJPT staff and Islands Conservation Corps crew members tending to pile burns at the Hunter Preserve | Staff archive
A Long-Term Vision for Reducing Wildfire Risk
Overall, we only thinned a handful of acres this year, and the pile burns themselves were even smaller in scale. But together, these efforts mark an important step toward a long-term vision. With thousands of forested acres under our permanent care, the Preservation Trust is committed to managing these lands for enduring health. A century of fire suppression has left many forests overgrown and vulnerable to disease and catastrophic wildfire. By strategically thinning forests and lighting small, intentional fires year after year, we gradually lower the risk for a major wildfire.
Special thanks to the San Juan Islands Conservation District for providing SJPT with expert burning assistance, and to the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank for their extensive work and knowledge contributed to this field.
Your Partnership Makes This Work Possible
Renewing your membership with the Preservation Trust helps us carry our mission forward, and we are deeply grateful for your continued partnership!