EFM Purchases 68,000 Acres on the North Olympic Peninsula From Rayonier

Portland, Oregon-based EFM, a forest investment and management firm, has finalized the purchase 68,000 acres (28,000 hectares) on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington, with plans of managing the forests through climate-smart practices, the Peninsula Daily News reported (4-5-25).

According to EFM CEO Bettina von Hagen, the land was purchased from Rayonier, Inc, a timberland real estate investment trust which had owned the land for more than 80 years and used it for timber production.

These coastal temperate rainforest acres were purchased for more than $200 million under the newly established entity Olympic Rainforest LLC, according to a press release.

About 37,000 of the acres are in Clallam County and 31,000 are in Jefferson County. They are adjacent to the Olympic National Park and will augment the other 25,000 acres EFM has acquired on the Peninsula during the past 20 years.

With its management strategy, EFM will prioritize sustainable forest management, landscape conservation, enhanced biodiversity, cultural significance, and public recreation. Its sustainable forest management practices utilize a number of practices, including longer rotations, thinning, variable retention harvest, and more.

Overall, the property is estimated to store more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to the press release. The transition from industrial timber management to climate informed practices is anticipated to deliver more than 1 million tonnes of additional removals over the next 10 years.