Fundraiser attendees learn about the value of the Crest’s ecology
By Diana Coogle
To boost its efforts to find permanent protections for public lands on the Siskiyou Crest, the Siskiyou Crest Coalition, based in southwest Oregon, sponsored a unique fundraiser on July 13: a day of guided hikes at a private property on Mount Ashland.
After the hikes, ticketed attendees enjoyed good food and drink, donated by loyal supporters, and a short program of speakers passionate about the values of the Siskiyou Crest.
Mark Newberger, a staunch supporter of the Siskiyou Crest Coalition and its mission, hosted the event. Lepidopterists, ornithologists and ecologists specializing in the Siskiyou Crest led guests around the property and through the woods and meadows to find examples of the butterflies, birds, and ecology of the Mount Ashland area.
Suzie Savoie of Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds guided hikers through the extensive wildflower gardens she planted several years ago on the host’s property.
Speakers included Dominick DellaSala, director of Wild Heritage, who emphasized the world-class importance of the Siskiyou Crest ecology. Luke Ruediger, a longtime advocate for protections of public lands on the Siskiyou Crest and executive director of the Applegate Siskiyou Alliance addressed the group.
Legendary environmental activist Dot Fisher-Smith spoke in the poetic language of one who has long loved the natural world in which she lives. And Applegate writer Diana Coogle recited a poem about the Stein Butte trail.
Newberger made a plea for people like him, who live outside the Applegate, to join the Siskiyou Crest Coalition in order to demonstrate broad support for protections on the Crest.
The emphasis of the day’s activities was on the ecological value of the Siskiyou Crest: the unparalleled biodiversity resulting from ecosystem niches influenced by six biotic regions; its importance as a wildlife connectivity corridor; its astonishing number of endemic botanical species; its status as having more conifer species than anywhere else in North America.
DellaSala pointed out its particular value as climate refugia; guests at the event enjoyed balmy breezes on the side of Mount Ashland while the Rogue Valley was roasting in over-100-degree weather below.
The Siskiyou Crest Coalition is grateful to their members who worked hard to make this event a success. It is thankful to the sponsors and donors who contributed money, food and wine; to the speakers, who conveyed both their passion for the Siskiyou Crest and their dedication to keeping its ecology intact; and to Newberger for hosting the event at his house. Thanks also to the many people who attended the event, thereby both supporting the SCC mission and learning more about the ecological importance of the Siskiyou Crest.
Diana Coogle is a member of the Siskiyou Crest Coalition. Email Ashland.news at [email protected].
