DE Habitat Guardians: Defending Lewes, DE Wildlife

dehabitatguardians.org

** Our cover picture is the Eaglet in the nest that sits on the property that is now for sale ... taken May 2023.

Here in Sussex County, Southern Delaware, we have seen the forests being bulldozed for new homes at an alarming rate. The rapid encroachment of human expansion is leaving the animals without sanctuary, pushing them further into human settlements in search of food and shelter. In a world where self-interest too often overshadows compassion, we know that together as compassionate human beings, we can make a difference.

There is a unique island of 6.8 acres of mature forest teeming with wildlife among the subdivisions in the Love Creek watershed area in Lewes DE. What was once implied to our communities as land that would go untouched now has a big price tag which means its future is uncertain.

We are asking for your help to purchase this unique piece of land and protect it from bulldozers to leave this forest sanctuary and its wildlife residents safe for generations to come.

Once we reach our goal, we will work with Sussex County Land Trust to donate this tract of land to them.

A team of people passionate about preservation have come together and decided to launch a GoFundMe Campaign to pool resources and obtain the land that is up for sale. The clock is ticking fast, and we are asking for your help to reach our goal of having this track of land preserved forever.

If this irreplaceable 100-year-old forest and ecosystem is cut down, it cannot be replaced. The huge trees on this property create a home filled with wildlife including:

In addition, countless varieties of birds and insects. Without our intervention, this wildlife oasis is at risk of being lost forever.

The forest is also important because it helps with stormwater mitigation, acting as a sponge to observe rainwater. In a sea of roofs, roads and other impervious surfaces, we must retain the forest. The forest also serves as a cool sanctuary, very important for minimizing the impacts of climate change.

The Inland Bays Watershed lost 18% of its forests from 1992 to 2017 (reference page 16), and development has only accelerated since then!

The largest tree on this property is a grandmother Water Oak, Quercus falcata which is 12'.5" feet around. The other largest trees around to be found on the property include:

Adding to the urgency of the situation, area developers have been ruthlessly clear-cutting hundreds and hundreds of acres of these mature trees to make way for more and more and more housing developments. I’m sure many of you have seen the same phenomenon in your local areas.

Initially, we worked with the owners who stated that they wanted to find a way to protect and preserve the land. However, they have now listed the property for sale without placing a conservation easement on it.

Together we can work to protect this sacred forest and secure a better future for our wildlife, for ourselves and all future generations. We are working with local resources to place this land in a permanent land conservancy.

We have a responsibility to all future generations to ensure that they inherit a world where forests and wildlife is treasured and thrives.

Our actions today shape the world they inherit tomorrow, and that becomes our legacy.

We must stand up and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Our Website: dehabitatguardians.org

Handling of Funds: All funds collected will be transferred into an account owned by me to purchase this parcel of land. If we do not meet our goal, all funds will be handled as mentioned above.