In recent years, more and more community groups, individuals, and school classes have adopted neighborhood natural areas. Some groups have taken on neglected streams, wetlands, and forests, reclaiming them for wildlife and people. Other groups have worked to restore popular parks and greenways. As they pick up garbage, pull ivy and blackberry bushes, plant native trees, and repair streambanks, people speak of the pride and satisfaction that environmental restoration brings.

This publication celebrates the efforts of people throughout the Portland metropolitan region who are working to improve and restore local natural areas. We've selected 25 restoration projects to feature, from woodland to wetland projects, small projects to big ones, and projects done by children and adults.

Stories of Restoration

For each project, we describe how people went about planning and planting, and how they recruited volunteers, built relationships with partners and neighbors, and returned to their sites time after time to ensure that the restoration succeeded.

As you read about these projects, you'll find that each has a story to tell: Stories of dreams that became plans and then reality; Stories of proud moments and disappointments; And stories of creative solutions to the challenges of restoration.

Common themes thread throughout the stories. Many project coordinators worried about how to pay for their restoration work and how to find enough people to help. Others mentioned the time needed to plan and coordinate their projects, and how working with partners has both challenges and rewards. Nearly everyone also described how their project brought them inspiration and satisfaction.

How to Order

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