Save the 6!
South of Nanaimo on the east side of Vancouver Island there are Six Acres of enchanting landscape: a rich, ancient forest with Coastal Douglas-firs older than half a millennium soaring into the sky, the rat-a-tatting of pileated woodpeckers echoing through the trees and emerald-green mosses blanketing the ground. Sadly, such forested areas are under threat and are disappearing rapidly due to logging and clearing for development. By helping us to save this precious forest, you will be helping to protect Nature and the environment, and helping to offset climate change!
Once saved, the Six Acres will join the adjacent Wildwood Ecoforest, a magnificent 77-acre patch of Old-Growth forest, which, surprisingly, has been carefully harvested since 1945, yet stands in stark contrast to the moonscape clearcuts of modern industrial forestry. At Wildwood, Nature rules, while also yielding a harvest of wood for humans to reap. It's a win-win achievement, but how was it accomplished?
About Wildwood
| Wildwood was developed by Merve Wilkinson, who logged this land by caring and selective logging. For more than seven decades, the old-growth beauty has been preserved, the habitat maintained for black-tailed deer, squirrels, bats, pileated woodpeckers and more. His logging was revolutionary not only in method, but also in philosophy. Although Merve’s methods are ignored by the provincial logging industry, his wisdom was recognized by others. Representatives of more than 21 countries have visited Wildwood to study his ecoforestry methods. David Suzuki called Merve a Canadian hero. Jane Goodall applauded his work. In 2002, Merve was honoured with the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada. Thanks to Merve, Wildwood Ecoforest is a stunning remnant of an once widespread Old-Growth Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. As a visitor, you will walk among towering bigleaf maple trees, limbs draped in thick carpets of mosses and licorice ferns. You will explore a fully mature, connected and ever evolving understory, a canopy that contains myriad insects and life systems that have never been studied before. This is a biodiverse, forested natural area — a safe haven for eagles, great blue herons, great horned owls, a wealth of flora and fauna. Merve's beloved pileated woodpeckers still nest in the old snags - the "wildlife hotels," as Merve used to all them. Campaign Goal: $505,000Duration: until January 31, 2022 |
The Ecoforestry Institute Society
As noted above, the Six Acres will be added to the magnificent Wildwood Ecoforest, which is managed by the Ecoforestry Institute Society (EIS), a charitable, non-profit organization whose mandate is to steward forests for biodiversity and ecological integrity to ensure a healthy planet. EIS holds Wildwood on behalf of the people of British Columbia under a Trust Deed that protects the Ecoforest forever. EIS is run by volunteers and is dedicated to preserving Wildwood while promoting and educating the public about the practices of ecoforestry and about the critical importance of forest ecosystems. By giving financially you will not only Save the Six, but will also help support EIS, Wildwood and the irreplaceable forests of British Columbia.
Visit Wildwood
Come visit Wildwood and ponder, perhaps like Thoreau at Walden Pond, about the meaning of life and how we humans are merely a part of nature. The big trees, some more than five centuries old, are like living time capsules with an enormous biological memory. If only we could learn to think and plan on the time scale of these ancient trees. They are living habitat and an integral part of our natural heritage. They should be honoured and preserved, not logged into oblivion.
Deep in the forest you will feel very close to Mother Nature and sense the spirits of the rocks, trees and plants all around. It is so natural, so enveloping and so wholesome. Little wonder that forest bathing at Wildwood has gained popularity. It relates to humans as animals who have lived and evolved in nature and thus it's like going back to the womb; we are elementally connected to the forest.
Please Donate!
Please, if you are able, make a donation to preserve this Old-Growth area - the Six Acres. Not only will you save a beautiful parcel of forest, but you will also support EIS and the work they do to promote truly sustainable forestry. Although the British Columbia public opposes the logging of ancient forests, it is continuing at Fairy Creek and elsewhere, with the government's approval. Take a stance, and show Premier Horgan where you stand. DONATE today to support old-growth forests ... and Nature.
(All donations are tax deductible! You can also Donate via e-transfer to the Ecoforestry Institute Society at admin@ecoforestry.ca; make the question with answer "forest")
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