Protect One of Earth’s Most Iconic Forests With Your Outdoor Adventures
The Pacific Northwest is home to rugged landscapes, old-growth forests, vulnerable habitats, and endangered animals. Adventure Scientists and the United States Forest Service have partnered to take on an unprecedented effort to preserve northwest forest biodiversity, including threatened and endangered species, and we need outdoor adventurers like you to help collect critical field data.
Why Biodiversity Monitoring in the Pacific Northwest Matters:
Forests of the Pacific Northwest are ecologically rich and under threat. These forests face growing pressure from shifting land use, wildfires, and habitat loss. Because these landscapes are so vast, it is difficult to monitor forests’ biodiversity and threatened wildlife activity using traditional methods.
That’s why the PNW Bioacoustics Lab of the United States Forest Service has partnered with Adventure Scientists in a Northwest Forest-wide, passive acoustic monitoring project. This innovative research will inform the Northwest Forest Plan and guide long-term forest conservation decisions for these ecosystems for generations to come.
That’s where volunteers, like you, can make a difference.
Is the Preserving Northwest Forest Biodiversity Project Right for You?
Trained volunteers will:
Explore seldom-seen landscapes
Contribute to expanding state-of-the-art bioacoustic monitoring techniques
Join a passionate community and be part of a scientific project with lasting impact
Expand scientific knowledge of who and what lives in the Northwest Forest
Where Can You Volunteer in the Pacific Northwest?
- Western Oregon
- Western Washington
- Northwestern California
Project locations span federally managed lands and require off-trail navigation; it’s a unique chance to explore parts of the PNW that few ever see. See the map below and the full list of locations to start planning your adventures.
You choose the level of adventure that you are comfortable with. Once you are accepted and trained as a PNW Biodiversity volunteer, you will receive specific location options and be able to choose a location aligned with your skill level, availability, and comfort with navigation, distance, and terrain.
Get Involved
Ready to put your adventure to work for science?
Join the Preserving Northwest Forest Biodiversity Project and help collect the data needed to learn more about these forests.
Frequently Asked Questions about Preserving Biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest
What is the Preserving Northwest Forests Biodiversity Project?
This community science project collects wildlife sound data in forests across Washington, Western Oregon, and Northwestern California. Volunteers help place Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) in areas like the Cascade Range, Olympic National Forest, and Klamath-Siskiyou region to monitor biodiversity and support forest conservation research.
Why is wildlife acoustic monitoring important for understanding forest biodiversity?
Acoustic monitoring detects species like birds and mammals that are difficult to observe visually. – think birds, bobcats, and pikas. These recordings provide essential biodiversity data for understanding ecosystems and protecting wildlife in Oregon’s Cascade Range, Washington’s Olympic Mountains, and Northern California’s Klamath-Siskiyou forests.
How do I volunteer to help with wildlife research?
Apply through Adventure Scientists’ volunteer portal. Complete a short application and an online training before selecting a monitoring location in areas like Mount Hood, the Olympic National Forest, and the Siskiyou Mountains.
What skills are required for wildlife monitoring volunteers?
Volunteers need backcountry navigation skills, including GPS use and off-trail travel. Seasonal conditions may require snowshoeing or winter camping. Physical fitness and safety awareness are key.
What training do volunteers receive?
Training is online and easy to access for all volunteers. It covers project goals, acoustic monitoring techniques, trip planning, and data collection procedures. It is free to participate, and all research equipment will be provided as well as exclusive access to office hours with Adventure Scientists staff.
Where will volunteers support research in the Pacific Northwest?
Sites include Oregon’s Cascade Range and the Siskiyou Mountains, Washington’s Olympic and Cascade ranges, and Northern California’s Klamath-Siskiyou region. More extensively:
Oregon National Forests & Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Districts:
- Siuslaw National Forest
- Mt. Hood National Forest
- Fremont-Winema National Forest
- Umpqua National Forest
- Deschutes National Forest
- Willamette National Forest
- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (extends into California)
- Coos Bay District
- Northwest Oregon District
- Lakeview District
- Roseburg District, Medford District
Washington National Parks and Forests, and WA Bureau of Land Management Districts:
- Olympic National Forest
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
California National Forests and Bureau of Land Management Districts:
- Mendocino National Forest, Klamath National Forest (extends into Oregon)
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Northern California District
Some sites are near forest roads; others require multi-day backcountry expeditions.
What equipment is used for wildlife sound monitoring?
Volunteers place specialized devices (ARUs) designed for high-quality audio recording in these outdoor environments. The ARUs quietly record soundscapes over weeks or months, capturing valuable biodiversity data with minimal disturbance. They weigh approximately one pound and are owned by the Northwest Forest Plan group, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. They must be picked up and returned at designated hubs in WA, OR, or CA.
What safety considerations should volunteers know?
Volunteers should prepare for rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, off-trail navigation, and seasonal hazards. Adventure Scientists will provide a full training for all accepted applicants.
How will the acoustic data be used?
This innovative sound-based biodiversity research will inform the Northwest Forest Plan and guide long-term forest management decisions for PNW ecosystems.
I'm not in Oregon, Washington or Northern California. How do I support the project?
Adventure Scientists appreciates the support of our constituents nationwide. You can donate to support this project and spread the word through your contacts and outlets to help support forest conservation.
PNW Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Volunteer Interest Form