- The Whidbey Camano Land Trust recently purchased an option to buy the largest parcel of forest land under single ownership on Whidbey Island and turn it into a healthy, sustainable forest that provides wildlife habitat, public recreational opportunities, and a place where current and future generations can experience the wonders of nature.
- The forest, often referred to as the Trillium property, is located between Freeland and Greenbank on the South end of the Island.
- Comprised of 664 acres of land, the property was subdivided into 124 building lots and then went into foreclosure. The Land Trust has only until September 10, 2010, to raise the $4.2 million required to purchase and permanently protect the land.
- After the property has been purchased, it will be owned by Island County and open for use as a community natural and recreational area, with the Land Trust holding a conservation easement. The Land Trust has committed to raising $50,000 dollars to establish a stewardship fund to pay maintenance and operating costs for the first five to seven years
- If our efforts to save the 664-acre forested property fail, the individual lots will most likely be sold to private parties and developed, and our opportunity to protect it will be lost forever.
- When forest land is converted to residential property, much wildlife habitat disappears and never returns. Development removes trees and native understory plants and replaces them with buildings, grass, and roads. If the property is developed, Whidbey Island will lose a large area that is currently inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife.
- This site is particularly important because of its size. It can sustain public recreation and maintain habitat and wildlife. A management plan will be developed that allows reasonable recreation while taking into account the needs of the forest’s flora and fauna.
- South Whidbey Island currently has more than 8 years’ worth of vacant land in inventory. Adding 124 more lots to this depressed real-estate market would drive prices down even further, and is unlikely to create new construction jobs.
- If the Whidbey Camano Land Trust can’t raise the funds to acquire the Trillium property, contributions will be applied to another important forest project on Whidbey Island (such as the Admiralty Inlet Heritage Forest) after the minor expenses related to this project are paid, unless donors elect to complete a pledge form.
