We would like to firstly acknowledge that these lands are on the unceded and shared territories of the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Nisqually peoples. These groups have inhabited this area since time immemorial, and deserve protection and respect for their ancestral lands. 

The Campaign 

In mid-summer 2020 activists and community organizers discovered that a local logging company in the Deschutes watershed south of Olympia had plans to log in a stand of old growth forest containing trees upwards of 600 years old. After circulating a petition that has at last count received more than 5000 signatures, the local company, Bark Beaters LLC., agreed to give us the opportunity to protect the 20-acre old growth forest. Upon visiting the grove we found ancient Douglas fir trees upwards of 5 feet in diameter, the forest was filled with ancient red cedars, douglas firs, and large western hemlock trees. This 20-acre forest is one of the last remaining old growth forests in the Deschutes watershed that flows into Capital Lake in Olympia. The forest contains a vibrant canopy structure that provides habitat for endangered species such as the Marbled Murrelet and Spotted Owl, with an understory of rare plants thick with lichens and fungi. An Indigogo campaign over the summer raised over $37,000 and provided us with most of the funds we need to purchase the forest. We have now finalized in agreement with Bark Beaters LLC to protect the forest but in the negotiations, we incurred more cost than originally predicted in our original estimate of cost. We are now $4000 short of finalizing this agreement and we hope to raise that amount of money by the end of January to purchase a 100 year timber deed, securing protection of the grove from the company.

What We Need 

As a local logging company, Bark Beaters has been extremely willing to work with us to protect this forest, but we need your help. We have already raised over $45,000 to purchase the timber deed and cover associated costs but we need to raise an additional $4000 to cover additional lawyers fees that will allow us to purchase a timber lease from the company and to protect this forest for the next 100 years.


Your Impact

We started this campaign with a few activists discovering that old growth logging has not yet come to an end, and we now, thanks to the generosity of Bark Beaters Lumber Company, have the incredible opportunity to save one of these last wild places. This forest is home to endangered species and has been growing here since the last Ice Age. Opportunities to save a place like this are once in a lifetime. Almost all of these areas are already gone and without action, all old growth forests left unprotected will soon disappear. By helping us cover the legal costs of this campaign you are helping us create a more wild world. You are allowing these ancient trees to grow for another hundred years and allowing future generations the opportunity to see these forests and preserve them even longer into the future. You are also helping to store a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide, preserve rare and endangered plants and animals from extinction, and save trees that have seen the rise, and may see the fall of Western civilization. Understanding that cost overruns are common bark beaters has sweeten the deal by offering to include a handful of extra trees along the boundary if we are able to raise the funds, and finalize the deal by the end of January.

Other Ways You Can Help!

We realize that some people just can't contribute financially, but that doesn't mean you can't help. Everyone can help spread the word, share this on social media, talk to your friends and family, and reach out to any tree-loving individual that you know to let them know that they can help save a forest! If you know any influencers or larger donors interested in supporting this project please get in touch! Thank you for helping us save this ancient forest!