Friends of River View Natural Area (FoRVNA)
The following was submitted in late August to our contact with the city for review. We will update/revise after the autumnal equinox (September 21).
The overarching purpose of River View Natural Area is to preserve quality cold water refugia and safeguard forest habitat.
This value statement defines the deeply held beliefs and principles of FoRVNA organizational culture, and acts as a moral compass to guide decision-making and establish a standard that actions can be assessed against. This fundamental core value is shared and acted upon by all members of FoRVNA.
FoRVNA exists to help promote, protect, and preserve RVNA as a valued forest habitat and cold water refugia.
Specific Purposes: Conservation Valuesas specified in the (July 2011) RVNA Conservation Easement Agreement (2b), the City of Portland's Terrestrial Ecology Enhancement Strategy (June 28, 2011), and the RVNA Management Plan Executive Summary (October. 2015).
which identify actions to improve the ecological health of a natural area, inform policy changes, and guide monitoring efforts); and the
design and construction of a trail system sustainable from both a maintenance perspective and an environmental perspective.
nature based recreation, such as hiking and nature watching, environmental education and research...(Conservation Easement P.3; Management Plan P.5). Compatible uses are those that do not cause undue impact on the habitat quality, water quality, or ecological functions of the site. Metro's conservation easement over the site stipulates that
permitted uses shall therefore include public access for nature based recreation, such as hiking and nature watching, environmental education and research. (Management Plan P.32)
habitat, water quality, and forest health as the highest priorities...(Management Plan, P.5)
vegetation management and habitat restoration...(Conservation Easement P 3)
River View Natural Area will be an urban environmental sanctuary and a model for community supported conservation education and ecological research by college and citizen-scientists.