Rural Brownfields, Wood Utilization & the Regenerative Economy

Turning Restoration into Rural Opportunity

Wood Utilization & Rural Brownfields

Sierra Institute’s Rural Brownfields and Wood Utilization programs build bridges between forest restoration and rural economic development to rebuild the regenerative (or circular) forest economy. By transforming small-diameter and other low- or no-value timber into useful products—and cleaning up contaminated lands in the process—we are reimagining what regenerative forest economy and the sustainable timber products industry look like in California’s rural communities and beyond.

From Forest Waste to Local Resource

Our forests are overstocked with small trees that contribute to catastrophic wildfires. Rather than treating this material as waste, we see it as a resource. Through innovation in biomass, lumber, and mass timber processing, we support wood product infrastructure that aligns with ecological restoration goals, as well as carbon-smart and fire-resistant housing.

Reclaiming Brownfields for Forest-Based Enterprise

Many rural communities are home to former industrial sites—old mills, yards, or factories—that sit unused due to contamination or neglect. Our team works to clean up and repurpose these lands for wood processing, community gathering spaces, and other rural development projects that respond to local needs and values.

The Crescent Mills Success Story


Our flagship example is the Indian Valley Wood Products Campus in Crescent Mills. Once a shuttered sawmill and brownfield site, it’s now in the process of becoming California’s first community-scale Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) facility, providing restoration-based jobs, housing solutions, and a new vision for what a forest-resilient rural economy can be.

Why This Work Matters

  • Fire Resilience: Reduces hazardous fuels in high-risk forests
  • Rural Revitalization: Creates local jobs and supports small businesses
  • Environmental Cleanup: Restores polluted lands for community benefit
  • Sustainable Supply Chains: Advancing sustainable forestry while bringing climate-smart materials to market

Join Us in Building What Comes Next

We’re working with Tribes, landowners, entrepreneurs, and agencies to reimagine rural development. Whether you’re interested in policy, investment, workforce development, or partnership, there’s a place for you in this work.

Let’s work together

Let’s work together. Whether you’re part of a community, an organization, or a funding entity —your involvement matters. Join us in building a more resilient, connected, and sustainable future for rural & urban communities and the landscapes we all cherish.

Join our mailing list

We’re hard at work in our local forests and communities and we’re excited to share important updates with you via our monthly newsletter. Thank you for your interest in our work and being part of our community!