Forterra

Forterra has conserved {{convert|275000|acres|km2|abbr=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/forterra-founder-gene-duvernoy-steps-down-as-president/|title=Gene Duvernoy steps down as president at Forterra|date=2018-04-28|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}} of working farms, forestlands and natural areas to date. Some of the major conservation projects include {{convert|118|acre|km2|adj=on}} Saddle Swamp, {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} Maury Island Marine Park and {{convert|90000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Snoqualmie Tree Farm.

In December 2016, Forterra acquired {{convert|376|acres}} of forest near the North and Middle Forks of the Snoqualmie River, jointly with Washington’s Department of Natural Resources.{{Cite web|url=https://www.valleyrecord.com/news/forterra-and-dnr-buy-376-acres-near-north-and-middle-forks/|title=Forterra and DNR buy 376 acres near North and Middle Forks|last=Pappas|first=Evan|date=2017-01-10|website=Snoqualmie Valley Record|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}

In October 2022 Forterra fired Director of Real Estate Transactions Tobias Levey citing "concerns that he could not responsibly or effectively serve the organization’s mission.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/forterra-facing-pressure-to-change-leadership-amid-pushback-from-snoqualmie-tribe-former-employees|title=Forterra facing pressure to change leadership|date=24 October 2022 }} Levey settled a civil lawsuit in 2017 that wrought allegations of fraud and embezzlement in a land deal similar to the projects he'd overseen at Forterra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/forterra-should-go-back-to-basics-of-preserving-open-space/ |title=Forterra should go back to basics of preserving open space|date=11 November 2022 }} This firing followed accusations by Snoqualmie Tribe officials that Forterra had misled tribal leaders in an application for 20 million dollar grant with the USDA.{{Cite web|url=https://forterra.org/press-releases/statement-from-forterra-on-report-of-investigation-into-allegations-by-the-snoqualmie-indian-tribe/|title=Statement from Forterra on Report of Investigation into Allegations by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe|date=3 November 2022 }} The tribe claims included allegations that the Forterra leadership refused to provide the grant unless tribal leadership agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://nativephilanthropy.candid.org/news/seattle-nonprofit-employee-fired-after-snoqualmie-tribe-protests-20m-forestry-grant/|title=Seattle nonprofit employee fired after Snoqualmie Tribe protests $20M forestry grant}}

Forterra has official partnerships with the cities of Everett, Kent, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle, and Tacoma in leading stewardship projects at city parks and urban forests.[http://www.cascadeland.org/stewardship/green-cities Green City Partnership] Public volunteers and volunteer Forest Stewards work with cities and Cascade Land Conservancy in implementing 20 year plans to protect urban forests from invasive plants.

On November 2, 2011, Cascade Land Conservancy officially changed the organization's name to 'Forterra' (meaning 'for the earth') in order to reflect the organization's changing goals.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cascadeland.org/news/press-releases/cascade-land-conservancy-changes-name-to-forterra-as-it-expands-its-mission |title=Cascade Land Conservancy changes name |access-date=2012-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204205811/http://www.cascadeland.org/news/press-releases/cascade-land-conservancy-changes-name-to-forterra-as-it-expands-its-mission |archive-date=2012-02-04 |url-status=dead }} As Washington State's largest conservation and stewardship organization, the 'Cascade' in the name did not reflect the statewide work area. 'Land Conservancy' likewise no longer embodied the purpose of the organization.{{Cite web |url=http://www.forterra.org/who_we_are/forterra_name_change |title=Forterra name change |access-date=2012-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512181757/http://www.forterra.org/who_we_are/forterra_name_change |archive-date=2012-05-12 |url-status=dead }}

The Green Seattle Partnership is a partnership between the City of Seattle and Forterra with the goal of combating invasive species and preserving parklands in Seattle, Washington.{{Cite web|title=The Solution|url=http://greenseattle.org/about/the-solution|work=Green Seattle Partnership|accessdate=2012-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325124620/http://greenseattle.org/about/the-solution|archive-date=2013-03-25|url-status=dead}}

• {{Official website|http://www.forterra.org/}}
• [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/snoqualmie-tribe-says-forterra-misled-it-feds-in-20-million-grant-application/ Snoqualmie Tribe says Forterra misled it, feds in $20M grant application]
• [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/forterras-report-finds-they-acted-inconsistently-but-in-good-faith/ Forterra’s report finds it took partnership with tribe for granted]
• [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattles-forterra-fires-executive-after-tribe-investors-ex-staff-speak-out/ Seattle’s Forterra fires executive after tribe, investors, ex-staff speak out]

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Category:Non-profit organizations based in Seattle

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