Want to give a unique gift this Christmas, particularly to a friend who loves the outdoors? Well, how about a piece of a brand new nature reserve on Thetis Island?
Until Dec. 23 the Islands Trust Fund will be accepting donations toward the acquisition of the Fairyslipper Forest Nature Reserve, a 16 hectare patch of ‘imperiled coastal Douglas fir forest on Thetis Island.
The trust fund will then send e-card notifications to the person being given your gift of a lifetime.
“I love the idea of giving a gift of nature to my friends and family,” said Ann Eriksson of the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy.
“This forest will be protected forever, and each gift, no matter how big or small, will be a part of that conservation success story.”
A gift of $35 will protect a bedroom-sized area of habitat, says an Islands Trust Fund media release. A gift of $150 an apartment sized area. Tax receipts will be issued for gifts over $20.
The Fairyslipper reserve will include part of an important watershed and sections of a popular trail, creating the island’s first publicly accessible protected area.
Islands Trust is working with the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy and the Cowichan Community Land Trust to raise $560,000 to acquire the forest for a reserve.
To date, $184,647 has been raised through donations and pledges. “We have until June, 2017 to raise the balance,” says the Islands Trust release.
Visit Islands Trust Fund’s Fairyslipper Forest page for more information and to donate. Click on ‘Campaigns’ under the ‘Donate’ menu item at IslandsTrustFund.bc.ca.