SAVING THE FOREST

The SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS LAND TRUST has been a leader in working for greater wildland protection throughout the popular San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) for fifteen years.

Few people realize that the SBNF is both the most popular and the most threatened National Forest in America.

 Popular, because it serves the most heavily populated region in the whole country.  Most Threatened, because developers want to cash-in by crowding more subdivisions and more urban sprawl into these scenic mountains.

The local county government has been unduly permissive in allowing sprawl, even though this Forest already has the highest percentage of urbanization of any National Forest.

Buying Land for Conservation

The best solution for safeguarding the quality of our National Forest is by buying threatened parcels of land for conservation, so the natural scenic integrity and wildlife values are protected.

The Forest Service cannot do this job by itself without help, because budget and staffing levels have been cut to a minimum. The assistance of the nonprofit Land Trust is indispensable for saving vital forest land.

The Grass Valley Creek acquisition protects 150 acres of riparian stream habitat near the lake

MISSION OF THE LAND TRUST

There are approximately 40,000 acres of unprotected lands in our local Forest still vulnerable to urban sprawl.  The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust has helped to save over 9,000 acres forest-wide during the past decade so far.

Highlights include 150 acres in Grass Valley Creek, 700 acres in Deep Creek, 120 acres in beautiful Bluff Lake (the most pristine part of Big Bear), 1000 acres in Forest Falls and 2000 acres in the upper Santa Ana River watershed.  The goal is to protect as much possible before time runs out.

Your Help Makes the Difference

Everyone drives past scenic areas we think are part of the National Forest, but instead are private real estate that someday will be invaded by bulldozers  --unless we find ways to buy them first.  The Land Trust was formed to create opportunities for conservation.  Joining the Land Trust empowers all of us to save these threatened places.

Acres protected by conservation teamwork of the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust

All the vital land acquisitions so far (some costing a million dollars or more) have greatly enriched the quality of our National Forest.  Lots of southern Californians who personally care about the future of this remarkable forest have become members and supporters to help sustain the progress.

The Land Trust keeps a record of all threatened lands throughout the Forest.  In the Big Bear area alone it includes about 5,000 acres.    We are in a race to protect what’s left, before it’s too late --before the urbanization gets worse.  If all of us pitch in, we can accomplish a great deal more.

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