After being logged and burned under private ownership in the late 1800s, the area that now includes the Arcata Community Forest was left to regenerate naturally. In 1955, The Arcata Community Forest was dedicated as the first city owned community forest in the State of California. In 1979 Arcata voters passed the Forest Management Parkland Initiative which created a local sustainable Community Forest Management Plan. In 1998, the Arcata Community Forest was certified as sustainable. In 2001, specialists from around the world came to study the management practices of the Arcata Community Forest. The goals of the Arcata Community Forest are to meet the needs of the present community without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This is acomplished by balancing timber harvest with forest groth, while trying to protect wildlife habitat, water quality, soil quality, native vegitation, and biological diversity. Although the forest is quite steep, it is a favorite place for many people to hike, jog, ride mountian bikes & horses.