Our Cause

 

The Cumberland Forest is part of an interconnected system of forests, salmon-bearing creeks, wetlands and riparian areas adjacent to the Village of Cumberland on Vancouver Island in the traditional territory of the Pentlach, SaLαLt, Säsitla and Eiksαn, known today as the K’omoks First Nation.

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.

The Cumberland Community Forest Society (CCFS) was formed in 2000 by residents concerned about active logging next to the Village of Cumberland. Since then, the CCFS has purchased 545 acres of privately-owned forest for ecological protection, restoration, and low-impact recreation. The CCFS raises funds, negotiates with private landowners, and ensures the long-term protection of these forests through conservation covenants and land management partnerships with local governments.

With the exception of forest lands protected by the CCFS and the Village, the forests and trails surrounding Cumberland are all privately owned by timber companies. It is not crown land.

The CCFS vision is an intact protected ecological corridor that spans both the Trent and Puntledge Watersheds, protects sensitive ecosystems, watersheds, and species at risk; restores ecological function; engages the stewardship community; and provides access to nature for all ages and abilities. 

The trail running community has been a significant supporter of their efforts. The Perseverance Trail Run is a Guardian Donor of the Cumberland Forest and has helped to raise over a million dollars over the past 22 years through the annual Run . We continue to support their incredible efforts, including their current campaign to secure a 251 acre parcel of forest called Middle Earth, home to trails like Round Out, Out Fox and a wetland corridor that feeds the Trent River.