Since its formation in 1992, 10,000 Years Institute has worked to effectively integrate academic science with applied resource management decision-making.

Mission Statement

10,000 Years Institute develops educational, management, and regulatory approaches to promote sustainable land use practices in forests, rivers, wetlands, and estuaries. Using science and local knowledge, the Institute works within communities to shape regulatory priorities and advocate for sustainable land management practices that protect ecosystem services and provide net environmental benefits. 10,000 Years Institute evaluates the ecological effects of human activities on natural environments, and promotes the maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity through the integration of reliable scientific information, sound resource management strategies, and education.

Description

10,000 Years Institute is a Washington non-profit corporation, with its principal office in Port Townsend. It incorporated in 1992, and gained federal 501(c)(3) status in 1993. Those involved in the Institute are scientists and community activists with backgrounds in ecology, geology, fisheries, and forestry. 10,000 Years Institute seeks and develops partnerships with other non-profit organizations, Native American tribes and nations, government agencies and other resource managers; and may also act independently.

Vision

The “10,000 Years” refers to the most recent climatic-geologic period in which our local Pacific Northwest landscape evolved, and to the temporal framework within which sustainable resource management approaches must be developed. Our vision integrates the natural and human history of the earth’s imperiled forest and riverine ecosystems in the development of sustainable approaches to resource use.

About 10KYI

Institute staff and Board of Directors have expertise in geology, geochemistry, geomorphology, physics, civil engineering, fisheries biology, aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, chemistry, forest ecology, and forestry. Our partners include non-profits, government agencies, Native American tribes, universities, scientific consultants, and legal professionals. 10,000 Years Institute staff and partners develop project-specific multidisciplinary teams to provide technical services at affordable rates. Through in-house expertise and the diversity of our network, we coordinate the technical talent and experience needed to address complex environmental analyses, emphasizing tangible applications of sound science.