Professional Bio – Eli Schmitz

Eli Schmitz is the Managing Member of Lone Pine Forest Management, LLC, (LPFM) a Washington-based forestry and natural resource consulting firm providing practical, data-driven planning services for private landowners, land trusts, and conservation organizations.

Eli brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental science, forest and habitat restoration, and applied GIS analysis across Oregon and Washington. His work has focused on translating complex ecological and spatial data into clear, implementable management decisions that balance long-term forest health, regulatory requirements, and landowner objectives.

Prior to founding LPFM, Eli served as an Environmental Scientist, Manager of Restoration Operations, and Senior GIS Analyst with The Resource Company, Inc., where he led wetland and habitat mitigation projects from planning through implementation and monitoring. His responsibilities included developing mitigation and restoration plans, managing field crews and subcontractors, preparing cost estimates, conducting ecological monitoring, and producing technical reports for clients and regulatory agencies. Eli has also worked as a Mitigation Specialist for Clark County, Washington, supporting environmental compliance and mitigation efforts.

Eli holds a Master of Forestry in Sustainable Forest Management from Oregon State University, where his graduate work emphasized strategic forest planning, growth and yield analysis, and integrated management of timber, wildlife habitat, and long-term stand structure. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Utah.

His technical background includes advanced GIS and spatial analysis (ESRI ArcGIS, GPS, AutoCAD), wetland and riparian ecology, habitat assessment, invasive species management, and long-term ecological monitoring. Eli is a licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator and maintains professional certifications related to wetland delineation and mitigation planning in Washington State

Through Lone Pine Forest Management, Eli provides independent, objective consulting with an emphasis on clear communication, defensible analysis, and realistic implementation—helping landowners and organizations make informed decisions about their forests today and into the future.