The Usal Redwood Forest Co is a Limited Liability Corporation that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Redwood Forest Foundation – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. (RFFI) was developed and is governed by a board of directors that includes community members from the redwood region with backgrounds in finance, forestry, conservation, academics, business, timber industry and philanthropy. This divergent mix of expertise allows individuals with conflicting forest management perspectives to make joint decisions regarding the Usal Redwood Forest’s environmental, economic, and social attributes. In addition, the Redwood Forest Council is a group of local residents who provide the board with additional perspectives on regional forestry, environmental, economic and social issues. This unique governance structure directly impacts the way that the Usal Redwood Forest is managed as a sustainable working community forest.
