Making a Gift
to the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

A gift to the earth does a world of good
 

 Mail a check with the Printable Donation Form
 

Would you like more information on our organization?
See our Official Mission Statement as recorded with
state and federal government (a Word.doc)
Do a charity review of our non-profit status and history at www.guidestar.org

 

There once was a great Eastern forest…

It was nearly 2000 miles long and wide. For millennia America's expansive eastern deciduous forest nourished an incredible richness of life that exceeded all other temperate forests in the world. Then, just a few hundred years ago, new people arrived. In a brief moment in history the settlers brought the forest to the ground. The trees were cut so thoroughly that today less than one square mile of Ohio’s original primeval forest remains. In a period of only 20 years the landscape was so altered by the pioneers that the bear, passenger pigeon, cougar, otter, elk, bison, wolf, and amazingly, even such common animals as the white-tail deer, turkey, and beaver completely disappeared. Although some species were re-introduced, a few became extinct while others remain missing to this day.

The biggest obstacle to bringing back the ancient old-growth forest of the East is our mass forgetfulness of what was once here. To work toward a goal, one must hold a vision. In America's Northwest, 10 percent of the virgin redwoods forest still stands as a living clarion call for action. But old-growth forest in Ohio and most of the East? The old-growth forest that once covered half a continent is now Ohio's rarest ecosystem. Considerably less than .02 percent remains. To bring back the original eastern forest we can’t just preserve it, we must re-create it by re-uniting the fragments, taking down the fences, and letting the trees grow.

Today, with increasing fragmentation of the land into smaller and smaller lots of residential ownership; wilderness in the East seems to be a dimming possibility. But though it is the 11th hour, 59th second for wilderness; it is not too late to call it back and give it a place of refuge. It wasn't by accident that these soils grew one of the richest forests in the world. The deep youthful soils of Ohio, coupled with a relatively mild climate, could enable a relatively quick return to wilderness with the majesty of old trees, if only we would give the forest the simple gift of space and time. Such a gift doesn't only take magic, scientific studies, or complicated technology…it simply takes from citizens who care.

Land is indeed expensive but we only have to buy it once.

Our Promise to You – We value the privacy of your home and overflowing mailbox by sending you up to only two mailings a year; and we value your donation by conducting a low-overhead and efficient operation. We will never give out your mailing address or e-mail address to other parties; nor will we ever ply you with calendars or tote bags. What we will do is conduct our operation as frugally as humanly possible and turn your donation into the enduring gift of life and land.

Link up!  Because of our deliberately infrequent mailings we highly encourage you to link-up between mailings by signing up for our email updates.

Note to Stock Donors – Stock donations are very welcome.  Stock gifts should be sent to the Highlands Fund/Arc of Appalachia account at the Columbus Foundation. This can be accomplished by calling Brad Britton at the Columbus Foundation and mentioning the Highlands fund as your desired destination. His number is 614-251-4000. If you have any other questions, please call Nancy Stranahan, Director at 937-365-0101 or write director@highlandssanctuary.org.

Wills, Endowments, and Charitable Remainder Trusts The Sanctuary is honored to work with any person interested in such acts of benevolence. Please inquire by contacting Nancy Stranahan, Director at 937-365-0101 or director@highlandssanctuary.org

Connecting is the first step.

e-mail linkup.adm@highlandssanctuary.org and ask to join our mailing list to receive Nature Notes, educational program notices, and volunteer opportunities