Community Forests International is raising funds to protect 50 acres of the one-of-a-kind Acadian forest, which includes one path on the Walker Road trail network.
Megan De Graaf is the director of CFI’s Acadian forest program, and has been working to protect the forest for the past six years.
She says that the current owner of the land, whose identity is confidential for privacy reasons, is in a position where they need to sell the forest and CFI wants to purchase that land to protect it from deforestation.
According to CFI, “the Acadian forest is home to a diverse blend of tree species found nowhere else in Canada.”
“The property is dominated by old sugar maple, yellow birch, and red spruce,” De Graaf clarified by email.
These species, she says, are more resilient to climate change.
Community Forests International is looking to the community to help them secure this 50 acres of valuable forest, and is hoping to hit their goal by Earth Day, which is this Thursday.
De Graaf says she is, “excited to protect this property because it contains old hardwood forest that is becoming increasingly rare. This kind of forest has been cut and converted to softwood across much of the Maritimes, so when you find one that’s still standing, it’s a real gem.”
“Pretty soon, the forest floor on this property is going to be covered in spring ephemeral flowers like trilliums, wild lily-of-the-valley, and trout lilies, all of which are also very special,” says De Graaf. “On top of that, this property hosts a much-loved local hiking and skiing trail, so we’re extra motivated to see the property protected.”
Donations can be made here.
