After 20 years, Cascadia Wildlands celebrates its conservation history and vows to keep fighting
For those not familiar, Cascadia Wildlands is a grassroots conservation organization that works to protect forests and environmental systems throughout the Cascadia Bioregion. The organization was founded in 1998, after the symbolic Warner Creek Blockade and Cascadia Free State movements, in which activists blocked logging companies from clear cutting old growth forest for more than 343 days. The blockade was dismantled in 1996, but the forest defenders had succeeded, and the burned forest has been regenerating since then.
Many of their staff grew out of these early experiences, and Josh Laughlin, previously the editor of the Earth First! Journal took the role as executive director of Cascadia Wildlands in 2001. Their five-person staff, active board of directors and advisory council, and dedicated volunteers, accomplish a great deal with limited resources through advocacy, outreach, education, and litigation their goal is to restore vast old-growth forests, rivers full of wild salmon, wolves howling in the backcountry, and vibrant communities sustained by the unique landscapes of the Cascadia bioregion.
The name was Cascadia Wildlands Project to “encompass the larger bioregion and expand beyond forest defense.” The word project was later dropped. And as it celebrates its 20th anniversary, the longtime nonprofit continues to fight to save the flora and fauna of the Northwest’s Cascadia bioregion.
If you support the work of Cascadia Wild you can read more or donate at:
https://www.cascwild.org/
If you would like to learn more, read the full article “20 years of Tree Hugging” by the Eugene Weekly and Camilla Mortense at https://eugeneweekly.com/2018/11/29/20-years-of-treehugging/
