We are in the final countdown to our next land purchase in the Trent Watershed with just 80 days remaining until we close the deal on 261.82 acres (106-hectares) of private forest lands called Middle Earth! This epic undertaking has taken just one year thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, supporters and community!
Middle Earth forms the next puzzle piece in the 25 year effort of the CCFS community to secure private forest lands in the Perseverance and Trent Watersheds in unceded K’omoks territory. Starting with the original Cumberland Forest purchase in 2005, this purchase marks our 6th major project and our largest single purchase purchase to date. This parcel of land flanks the eastern side of the existing park and reaches from the wetlands on the south side of the Village all they way up to the lush forested edge of Round Out and the shadows of Nikkei Mountain.
Time is of the essence for conservation land acquisition in our region.
The Cumberland Forest is located in the legacy landscape of the E&N Land Grant which resulted in the privatization of 2 million acres of land on eastern Vancouver Island in the 1880’s. Today, as real estate values continue to climb on eastern Vancouver Island, these values put pressure on the value of adjacent private forestry lands, and on the conservation community to secure our watersheds before the price tag is out of reach. The CCFS is working hard to fulfil our vision of a connected and protected landscape that spans the Perseverance and Trent Watersheds and supports drinking water health, biodiversity and habitat, climate resilience and low impact, community connected recreation access. Removing forests from the commercial harvesting cycle, management interventions, and allowing landscapes to grow old is part of this strategy
Protecting forests for the future.
The Cumberland Forest, and Middle Earth, is nestled between the ocean and mountains on eastern Vancouver Island in the broad, forested plain called the Nanaimo Lowlands. Forests here, are different from elsewhere on the island because the Island mountains shield us from much of the rain, causing a rain shadow effect. Unlike more common rainforest environments on the Island, this rain shadow supports ecosystems adapted to a drier and warmer climate. These ecosystems are rare on our planet and are home to a unique combination of drought tolerant species such as Douglas-fir, Arbutus and Garry oak, an incredible diversity of plants and animals (more than anywhere else in BC) and more over-wintering bird species than anywhere else in Canada!
Nearly all the old forests on Eastern Vancouver have been logged
Because of this, forested ecological communities like Middle Earth are of critical importance and they will become ecosystems at risk as they reach maturity. As these forests grow old, they provide important habitats for wildlife species of special including the Little brown myotis (bat), northern red-legged frog, Roosevelt elk and Western toads. The large wetland complex is an important ecological feature in Middle Earth is also being assessed for the presence of species at risk including red-listed painted turtle, the blue-listed wandering salamander, and the blue-listed western screech owl..
How can you help?
As we enter into the final countdown for Middle Earth, we are reaching out to past and current community donors to raise the final $80,000 to complete this 2.1 million dollar project. The CCFS is a registered charity and all donations are tax deductible. Donations made through The Cumby, Earth Week Festival, or at our Spring Trivia event will all be part of this final $80,000 target – You can also donate today by visiting HERE .