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Wildcraft Forest School
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June 21, 2022
A Forest Quest for Mother Trees
Wildcraft Forest Foundation seeks to
Inventory Seed Trees and Old Growth Forests
“We are losing the wild and biodiverse forest. It’s entirely possible that we could lose the entire genetic memory held by the tree seeds cast by Mother Trees, and in the process have forests that can’t problem-solve changing environments and stress.”
- Don Elzer, founder of the Wildcraft Forest School
VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA - As summer arrives an environmental organization is getting prepared for major research and work expeditions into British Columbia’s remote forests and their quest is to explore the presence of Mother Trees also known as Seed Trees.
The Wildcraft Forest Foundation is launching its annual experiential learning programs that will help them find, inventory, record and collect seed cones in areas of the Okanagan, Upper Shuswap River and Monashee Mountains.
“We are trying to locate as many of these trees as possible so that we can protect them and understand the relationship between these trees and the forest ecology,” said Maria Beveridge of the Wildcraft Forest Foundation.
With support from the Regional District of the North Okanagan Conservation Fund, and other sponsors, the foundation is now expanding its Mother Tree Hub to include a wider “Wild Regeneration Project”.
The project is tasked with delivering a “how to” portal that will help residents, organizations, businesses and communities rewild their yards, farms and neighborhoods and to embrace stewardship practices.
The project will show residents a different way to experience nature with a softer footprint and demonstrate how in nature, everything is connected.
“We will be building online tools in the form of step-by-step guides and videos which will encourage practical engagement with protecting watersheds and ecosystems while becoming directly involved with climate change solutions,” said Beveridge.
The project is in the process of establishing an annual Conservation Index which as an indicator identifies, observes and protects remote habitat, old growth areas and species at risk with one of its primary goals being the support for an ongoing effort to encourage engagement and volunteerism to help rewild and protect remote areas within our watersheds.
“More people need to get out into these remote areas and understand how forest ecology works; to see first hand the beauty that exists, as well as the threats that are surfacing. The satisfaction of making bird nesting habitat, or planting trees – whatever the action might be, must be about helping those wild living beings first and foremost. By investing in nature, she will invest in us – this represents the true economy of a living Earth – and this helps us grow mindfulness towards all living beings; including a stronger connection towards each other,” said Don Elzer, founder of the Wildcraft Forest School and project team member.
Residents and visitors alike can learn more about the project and its current activities by visiting the Mother Tree Hub at www.mothertreehub.com .
To learn about the Wildcraft Forest Foundation visit their Extension Services website at:
www.wildcraftforestschool.com
For an interview contact Maria Beveridge at 250.547.2001 or by email at: info@wildcraftforest.com
