Peter Rusland, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, July 25, 2009
Irv Banman, Ed Mankelow, Dorothea Siegler, John Scull, Collin Elder and Tony Irwin are all excited about the preservation of Chase Woods, which looms behind them.
Peter W. Rusland
Chase Woods, home of Cowichan’s Mount Tzouhalem and other rare ecosystems, has been saved with last-minute public donations.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada announced Friday — the day its offer expired with owner David Chase — it had raised the $1.7 million needed to buy the 100-acre environmental jewel after weeks of fundraising.
“We’ve done it!” the NCC’s Lesley Neilson told the News Leader Pictorial.
“It means we’re set to close the purchase by mid–August then start our management planning process.”
She thanked countless donors for their cash after articles about the looming July 24 deadline appeared in the local press and elsewhere.
“There was a big outpouring of community support in the past 10 days that managed to push us over the top.”
Neilson cited an anonymous donor who recently chipped in $75,000 of the final $150,000 needed.
That donor challenged others to give generously and help preserve Chase Woods.
The tactic worked.
“We got another big donation at the last minute,” Neilson said, withholding the donor’s name and amount given.
Those big gifts came after monied donors saw Cowichanians’ commitment to preserving Chase Woods, she explained.
“Both donors cited community support as to why they wanted to help.”
The B.C. Conservation Foundation also helped, giving $10,000 Friday from its Land For Wildlife Fund to the Chase deadline race.
The foundation’s Ed Mankelow said it’s great news the NCC hit its target.
“We gave money but lots of people gave effort and that’s every bit as valuable as money in these cases.”
He’s glad Chase Woods wasn’t lost to development.
“Gems like this property become available for protection far too seldom, and in these times of economic downturn we cannot rely on government support so it fell on local, caring citizens and businesses to step forward and make sure this opportunity wasn’t lost.”
Chase, 98, thanked the NCC for buying the property he’s tended as owner since 1955.
“This will be a lasting legacy for my family and a wonderful addition to the NCC’s portfolio of land stewardship.”
Irv Banman, manager of the NCC’s Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, also applauded folks for buying Chase Woods abutting rare habitat at Providence Farm and North Cowichan’s forest reserve.
“Chase Woods is a crucial piece of the puzzle.
“It’s pretty amazing and pretty sweet.
“Saving Chase Woods was a huge undertaking and that meant a huge amount of support from our community.”
Chase Woods more proof of our love affair
Editorial, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, July 25, 2009
Saving Cowichan’s Chase Woods makes good environmental and business sense all around.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada deserves giant praise for narrowly raising the $1.7 million needed by Friday to buy David Chase’s pristine 100-acre property.
That’s just the start. The obvious winner is Mother Nature.
Chase’s beloved site sports flora and fauna in ecosystems spanning forests and wetlands to meadows.
The NCC’s purchase also saves historic Mount Tzouhalem, and its white cross, from possible crucifixion by development.
Potential environment damage would have marred our million-dollar views of the verdant, forested cliff side.
Ironically, saving Chase Woods also preserves local property values; homeowners can boast about local conservation values when selling their properties.
Chase also embodies the valley’s commitment to nature.
Well-heeled anonymous donors and families alike stepped up and chipped in to save the woods after seeing the spectre of development on our own ‘Bare Mountain,’ the Cliffs Over Maple Bay.
The Cliffs’ bankrupt mess also reinforced David Chase’s resolve to sell and save his lovely property rather than take developers’ money and run.
His courageous stand and the NCC’s donor drive have earned us another eco-gem.
Chase Woods joins Ducks Unlimited’s recent Chemainus Estuary buy, and the NCC’s 1999 purchase of Maple Bay’s Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve.
But the real hero is the average person who keeps putting their money where their mouth is.
That’s priceless.
Chase Woods are lovely, dark and deep And these we have a chance to keep.
Bob Nation, Letter, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, June 6, 2009
Dear editor
The Chase Woods property is a natural and historical treasure of 101 acres on the steep side of Mt. Tzouhalem, stretching from sea level up to the Cross, high on the cliff edge. Already appreciated by naturalists, hikers and historians in our valley, the Chase acreage represents what James Douglas would have seen when he first sailed into Cowichan Bay -- now-rare Coastal Douglas fir forest in all its diversity.
Luckily for us, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has judged it important for preservation, and is moving towards purchase of the property. The Conservancy is a well-established, highly effective organization for land conservation. Its work includes the very admirable restoration program at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve off Maple Bay Road.
Now they need our local donations to support their big push to obtain the Chase property. This is our chance! You can call the Conservancy at 1.888.404.8428 (or e-mail
) for information. Tours are available to see the property first-hand. Every donation will also earn us some “carbon credit” -- in climate change, preserving intact forest is cheaper and better than reforestation.
With so much of the north side of Mount Tzouhalem given over to residential development, including that abortive, ill-conceived golf course, let us make a strong move in a positive direction.
News 
