+70_ of purchase price for Children's Forest raised

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents -The Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society has raised just over 70% of the $7.5 million it needs to purchase 261 acres of forest along Carrington Lagoon from Mosaic Forest Management. Society Chair Chris Dragseth says this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community: “We’re protecting some valuable properties from an ecological point of view and from a societal point of view. The youth of the community, both residents and from afar, have benefited immensely from the protection this land has had to date. It’s got huge opportunities in the future from a continued educational perspective with the youth, but also from a research perspective.” So far, most of the campaign has taken place behind the scenes. Dragseth says they’ll soon be reaching out to the wider Cortes community: “We have a little more than 70% of the target campaign number. There are a few balls in the air, but we’re confident that we will be able to close this deal.” The society still needs to raise about $2 million in the next few weeks. “We have a deadline of November the 19th for the funding conditions to be removed, and then the final closing date is December the 19th.” If the full $7.5 million isn’t raised by then, Dragseth says there may be some flexibility. Part of the total is meant to build an endowment, which could be finalized after purchase. Discussions with Mosaic would be needed if the purchade price is not raised. In the meantime, supporters can follow updates and make pledges online at corteschildrensforesttrust.org.