Here at Rentor, our daily focus is usually on housing families, maintaining beautiful properties, and fostering thriving communities. But as a property management and real estate team deeply rooted in Humboldt County, we know that a truly thriving community depends on something foundational: the health of the land we live on.

That is why we were incredibly grateful to enjoy a special community presentation featuring April Newlander, the Executive Director of Sanctuary Forest.

With a Master of Science in Biology and years of real-world ecology experience, April brought a wealth of insight into how protecting our local wilderness directly impacts the stability, water access, and climate resilience of our neighborhoods.

Who is Sanctuary Forest?

Founded back in 1987 by a group of passionate community members determined to save a single 2,000-year-old redwood tree known as "Big Red", Sanctuary Forest has grown into a vital nonprofit land trust. Their mission centers on protecting and restoring the headwaters of the Mattole River in Southern Humboldt County.

For anyone living or owning property in the area, the Mattole River is a lifeblood ecosystem. But decades of early industrial logging, heavy road construction, and changing climate patterns have left the river’s historical salmon runs severely threatened. Sanctuary Forest steps in to heal the land using data-backed, cooperative strategies.

Conservation By The Numbers

April shared some staggering milestones regarding exactly how much land has been saved and managed through their collaborative programs:

Total Lands Guided & Protected

Nearly 15,000 acres

Conservation Easements

10,675 acres held on private lands

Direct Land Ownership/Stewardship

818 acres owned outright for protection

Historical Salmon Populations

Down from historic annual runs of 17,000–20,000 adults to critical historic lows, making streamflow protection vital

Why This Matters for Local Property and Community

One of the most fascinating parts of April’s presentation focused on groundwater recharge projects.

During dry summer months, local streamflows can drop significantly, leaving juvenile salmon trapped in shrinking, disconnected pools. To combat this, Sanctuary Forest implements an innovative "slow it, spread it, sink it" strategy. By creating engineered wetland terraces, subsurface clay barriers, and storage ponds, they help hold winter rain in the soil like a giant sponge. This water is then gradually released as cool groundwater back into the streams during peak drought months.

The Real Estate Connection: This isn't just about saving the salmon, though that is incredibly important. Restoring the natural water balance protects our region against catastrophic wildfires, stabilizes the local water table that thousands of residential wells rely on, and keeps the microclimate of Humboldt County resilient against intense climate shifts. When the land is stable, property values stay secure, and our community remains a safe, beautiful place to invest in and call home.

Get Involved

We are proud to share the work of organizations like Sanctuary Forest that ensure our beautiful region stays green and vibrant for generations to come.

To learn more about their summer hikes, educational programs, or to donate to their active land acquisition projects, check out the Sanctuary Forest Official Website.

Quick note: While we love supporting local initiatives, Rentor is a completely independent property management and real estate team. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the organization mentioned above, we’re just proud members of the Humboldt community sharing our perspective!