UNESCO Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve

This 102,110-acre site was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1976 on the central Oregon Coast by the United Nations Man and Biosphere Program and reauthorized in 2017. This 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 a 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.

A Diverse Ecosystem

• Seven 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.

Additional federal and state designations

• 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
• State held Conservation easement (Westwind)

Prolific diversity of wildlife

Black bear, cougar, elk, osprey, bald eagle and peregrine falcon, five 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.

Visit the Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve website to learn more.