California Wildlands Grassroots Fund
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Sample CWGF Project Request

Mission: Founded in 1992, the Forest Preservation League (FPL) is a small grassroots 501 (c) 3 organization of volunteer activists working to protect Beaver County's forest and wildlands. Our goal is to preserve our forest and wildlands and to promote ecologically sustainable economic development in our small, remote rural county, which is home to one of the most diverse, pristine ecosystems in our region.

Geographic Scope: Beaver County, CA.

Accomplishments and Goals: Over the past two years, FPL has successfully challenged three timber sales in the Beaver National Forest. We have built community support for the creation of a Beaver State Park on lands currently owned by the Big Tree Timber Company, and have begun a dialogue with Big Tree officials about selling critical habitat corridors and watershed lands. Last year, FPL sponsored the first annual Wildlands Celebration, which brought more than 150 people to our community for a two-day festival that included bird watching, hikes, and history tours with the members of the Mnok Tribe, the indigenous residents of our region. Our goal for the next year is to hold our second annual celebration (goal: 200 participants); hold quarterly community meetings to continue to build public support for the state park proposal; continue negotiations with Big Tree; and halt any activities that would affect the proposed park.

Financial Status:
Expenses
Stipend for part time staff (two individuals est. 15 hours per week/$15 hour) $11,700
Printing and design of brochures $3000
Telephone (long distance) $500
Postage $1000
Travel (mostly mileage) $400
Office expenses and supplies $500
Misc. $150
Total $17,250
(Note: we receive various in-kind contributions: a computer, web design and maintenance, volunteers, and a pro bono attorney, hundreds of volunteer hours)

Revenues
Contributions $4000
Fundraising events $2500
Beaver Celebration registrations $3750
No. California Community Foundation $7000
Total $17,250

B. Funding Request

  1. Yes, this request is an emergency, because Beaver County is holding a hearing on the development proposal March 17, just two months from now.

  2. The geographic focus of this request is a 1000-acre tract of land surrounding Beaver Lake, currently owned by Big Tree Timber Company in northwestern Beaver County CA.

  3. The problem we seek to address is too much logging and development in our region, especially a planned resort /second home community around Beaver Lake, a fragile ecosystem, and the solution we propose is the creation of Beaver Lake State Park. For the past 10 years, FPL has been working to protect Beaver County's forests, both private and public, from logging and other development. We have been in negotiation with Big Tree Timber to facilitate the sale of some its land to the state as a state park. But several months ago, Big Tree proposed selling off 1000 acres of critical creekside habitat and watershed surrounding Beaver Lake for a resort and housing development. Given the decline in the timber industry in our remote county and depressed economic conditions, Big Tree has been able to build public support for the development and to convince some of our county supervisors that the sale and subsequent development will be a boon to our local economy. FPL believes that this acreage, along with other Big Tree holdings, should be turned into state park land and has been working with public and private institutions to begin the land acquisition process. We believe that protection of forestlands will benefit our community in the long term, bringing tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to visit our incredible environment, one of the most diverse and pristine ecosystems in the state.

  4. The specific project for which we seek funding is building public awareness and support for our proposals. Beaver County has scheduled its first public hearing on this issue two months from now. FPL wants to build public support for our proposals over those two months, and to make sure that our views are well represented to the County Board of Supervisors at the hearing. FPL requests $3,678 to educate residents, key officials and stakeholders about the negative impact of Big Tree's proposal and to mobilize them to speak out at the hearing:

    • Printing of 2,000 educational handouts = $428
    • Campaign materials for distribution (buttons, bumper stickers and t-shirts) = $1,000
    • Childcare for parents to attend hearing and to volunteer in outreach activities = $200
    • Staff time to recruit, train and coordinate volunteers ($15.00 x 100 hours) = $1,800
    • Miscellaneous (supplies for training, refreshments for volunteers, etc.) = $250
      Total = $3,678

  5. Our short-term goal is to recruit and train at least 20 volunteer residents to do education and outreach activities, in order to get at least 200 community residents to attend the public hearing. Our long-term goal is to stop this plan and to create a new state park instead.

  6. We are partnering with the Mnok Tribe, with several local small businesses, and the Nature Conservancy/California. The tribe and businesses provide volunteer assistance and in-kind support while the Nature Conservancy has helped us with land acquisition issues.

  7. The target audience is the Beaver County Board of Supervisors, as well as residents of the county and officials of Big Tree Timber.

  8. Success will be measured by turnout and participation at the hearing and Beaver County's decision regarding Big Tree's development proposal. Even if the county does vote to approve the development, we will participate in the process, reviewing Environmental Impact Statements and continuing to organize and outreach. We will report back to you the results of the hearing and our next steps.