Cumberland Forest Society Receives 2020 Keeping it Living Award

The CCFS was chosen to recognize the outstanding fundraising work they have done to protect the land surrounding Comox Lake, which forms part of the upper watershed of K’ómoks Estuary. The health of the estuary depends on the health of the upper watersheds it is connected to and vice versa. The Society has also taken on the work of the Perseverance Streamkeepers to protect and enhance that watershed. Even though the CCFS has been busy with their own land acquisition fundraising, they found capacity to support of our Kus-kus-sum fundraising campaign. This highlights the wonderful synergy of local stewardship groups working together to achieve mutually beneficial conservation goals. 

The Cumberland Community Forest Society is a grassroots community based charitable non-profit dedicated to protecting forests, creeks, wetlands and watershed lands surrounding the Village of Cumberland on Vancouver Island, BC. This forest is an integral part of both the Trent and Puntledge Watersheds, feeds Comox Lake, and forms a critical link in an extensive biodiversity corridor that connects mountains and lakes to the Salish Sea. This forest is privately owned by timber companies.

To date the society has purchased 500 acres of forest and placed it under a conservation covenant to ensure its future protection as a Village park. Their most recent purchase was September 1st 2020 when 225 acres known as Project Perseverance was purchased outright by the community. Currently they are working to protect Lower Perseverance Creek from timber harvesting. Perseverance Creek is a biodiversity corridor that links upland forests to Comox Lake, the Comox Valley’s drinking water source, and offers refuge and safe passage for species big and small. Coho make their way up from the K’ómoks Estuary to spawn in the lower reaches of the creek. To find out more about the Cumberland Community Forest Society visit www.cumberlandforest.com.