BISOPHERE BASICS!

Some basic details about Oregon’s last remaining UNESCO Biosphere Region.

The Cascade Head Biosphere Region is a 102,110 acre site designated originally in 1976 on the central Oregon Coast by the United Nations Man and Biosphere Program and reauthorized to our current footprint in 2017. It has within its boundaries the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area, Cascade Head Experimental Forest, the Cascade Head Preserve, and the Cascade Head Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Areas. Our rare and diverse ecosystem includes the Salmon River and its estuary, a sandy littoral spit, densely forested uplands, a two mile basalt headland covered in native coastal prairie and marine reserve stretching west into the waters of the Pacific.

This unique land / sea connection, is protected and managed by a dynamic community of agencies, non-profits, businesses, and residents in the surrounding communities. The Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative is working alongside partners to increase awareness of the UNESCO site and to advance the mission of the Man and the Biosphere Programme.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  The Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative respectfully acknowledges that the lands on which the Biosphere Region is located are the original homelands of the Nechesne Peoples of the Salmon River.  The Collaborative pledges to work with their descendants, including the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde Community and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, going forward in inclusion and collaboration, to mutually benefit this place where the land meets the sea.

History leading up the the UNESCO designation.

CHSRA ~ Predating the UNESCO designation was the passing of a federal legistation, Public Law 93-535 (88 Stat. 1732), enacted on December 22. 1974, that established the Cascade Head Scenic-Research Area or CHSRA.

This was the stepping stone to the area becoming a UNESCO Biosphere Region in 1976.

Watch this short documentary film by Josh Havelind, reminding and celebrating the rich history of Cascade Head.

Getting to know the land and sea…

The Cascade Head Biosphere Region’s (CHBR) diverse ecosystem includes:

• 7 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline with a recently added marine reserve and major coastal prairie headlands jutting out to sea.

• A littoral sand spit, dune and beach pine complex.

• The Salmon River, and its recently restored estuary, providing critical staging areas for upstream spawning migrations of anadromous fish and rearing areas for juveniles and smolts.

• A community of several thousand humans living in both rural and city environments.

Besides its UNESCO Man and the Biosphere designation this area has additional federal and state designations conserving its ecosystem including:

• A Nature Conservancy Preserve (entire headland).

• A Federal Scenic Research Area (estuary and river).

• A National Forest under Late Successional Reserve management

• A State Marine Reserve (PDF).

• State held Conservation Easement (Westwind property).

Cascade Head Biosphere Region has a prolific diversity of wildlife including:

Black bear, Cougar, Elk, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, 5 species of Salmon, Grey and Humpback whales, as well as four federally listed endangered species: The Spotted owl, Marbled Murrelet, Coho Salmon, and Oregon Silverspot Butterfly. 

Biosphere Regions Around the World

Cascade Head is part of a global community of places working to connect conservation, science, education and sustainable communities. UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 797 biosphere reserves in 145 countries, providing opportunities to share ideas, research and practical solutions across very different landscapes and cultures.

• United States Biosphere Network — Cascade Head is one of 28 U.S. Biosphere Regions, connected through a national network of learning, collaboration and shared stewardship.

• World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves — Cascade Head’s coastal and marine character makes this international network especially relevant, bringing together biosphere regions facing shared challenges at the land–sea interface, including climate change, biodiversity and sustainable coastal communities.

• EuroMAB — Cascade Head also participates in EuroMAB, the UNESCO MAB network connecting biosphere regions across Europe and North America and providing another avenue for international exchange and collaboration.

Collaboration at the Core

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb

The Cascade Head Biosphere Region is stewarded by a diverse community of nonprofit organizations, federal and state agencies, Tribal partners, and private landowners who care for this remarkable landscape. In 2023, the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help connect these partners and serve as a conduit for the broader community.

Visitors from around the region and the world come here to kayak, birdwatch, dive, hike, fish, crab, forage, conduct research, and take part in workshops, camps, and symposiums. Working alongside many partners, the Collaborative helps people understand, experience, and care for this exceptional place by sharing the stories, science, and stewardship that connect community and landscape.

Thanks to the many funders and partners! To learn more, explore some of the people who bring this work to life. About Us! →