Universal Wildlands is in negotiation with Bark Beaters LLC to preserve 20 acres of old growth habitat.

On June 19 2020 activists with Universal Wildlands discovered that a local logging company call Bark Beaters had begun clear-cutting in two virgin forests adjacent to the Snoqualmie National Forest. Timber companies own approximately 2200 acres of virgin forest in the region and have clear-cut over 700 acres of virgin forests here since 2010. In their 240 acre logging plan the company would have logged over 30 acres of old growth forest, including a stand of about 20 acres of contiguous old growth.

Since discovering this we circulated a petition that now has almost 5000 signatures, asking the company to hold off logging in these areas and allow the conservation community time to purchase them. The company has been receptive to our concerns and is now offering to sell a 100 year "timber lease" on the largest 20 acre tract of old growth forest to us for $35,000*. This timber lease would conserve the forest for the next 100 years. 

Shortly after the petition was launched we meet with the owners of Bark Beaters to explore the 20 acre stand. In the forest, we found massive trees in excess of 5 feet in diameter and 600 years of age. At the elevation of 3000 feet, the 20-acre forest is composed of Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, and ancient Douglas Fir trees. The forest is thick with snags and complex canopy structures that are home to incredible biodiversity. We found rare plants in the understory and a great diversity of fungi. The owners of the lumber company were incredibly welcoming and have been incredibly accommodating working with us to preserve this forest. We are thrilled that they are willing to work with us and as a local company see the value in preserving the environment they work in. 

Universal Wildlands has launched a fundraiser to purchase the timber lease from the company, please contribute to the campaign and share it on social media!

Now that we are in negotiations with the company we ask that activists do not trespass on the companies land or harass its workers. We thank Bark Beaters for this generous compromised and we thank the thousands of citizens for voicing their concerns.

Call 360-989-8067 to get involved or for questions about fundraising.

*Cost of the purchase

The price has fluctuated since the beginning of the campaign. Initially Bark Beaters offered to sell us the forest for $25,000, planning on this we launched a fundraiser for $30,000 which would've covered surveying expenses. We have since agreed to pay Bark Beaters an additional $10,000 to protect certain high value trees along the border of the conservation area. Indiegogo will not allow us to change our fundraiser goal to $35,000 however if our campaign is fully funded they will allow us to raise money beyond our goal.

Timing

Our Indiegogo campaign has 60 days for us to reach our fundraising goal, this is the maximum allowed under their algorithm. Bark Beaters however has agreed to give us a full year to come up with the needed funds to purchase this forest.