Program Meeting Tuesday May 22, 7:30pm: Exploring Oregon’s Ancient Forests

Ancient forests have been a great source of inspiration for Chandra LeGue, Oregon Wild’s Western Oregon Field Coordinator. For many years she has worked to protect and restore these natural treasures. When an opportunity arose to revise and republish her late colleague Wendell Wood’s 1991 book, A Walking Guide to Oregon’s Ancient Forests, she seized it. Over the last year, she has spent six months traveling across Oregon seeking out some of the finest examples of these forests to share with others in the new version of the guide. Publication by Mountaineers Books is set for 2019. With only 10 percent of Oregon’s historic ancient forests remaining, it is imperative that people understand their importance to our state’s future, for clean water, climate change, wildlife, recreation, and so much more. 

Chandra LeGue originally came to Oregon from the Midwest in 1999 with a degree in biology and a deep love of nature. She earned a Masters in Environmental Studies and a graduate certificate in Non-profit Management from the University of Oregon, and has worked for Oregon Wild since 2003. In her role as Western Oregon Field Coordinator, she works to promote policies and law that protect and restore Oregon’s forests and watersheds, focused primarily on federal public lands. Public engagement, outreach, and collaboration are key facets of her job. She participates in forest collaborative and stewardship groups, leads hikes, and works at giving the public a voice in policies that impact public lands. In addition to her work at Oregon Wild, Chandra has been involved with other non-profit groups, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council.