Nonprofits raise million to protect the forest habitat of the Big Bear bald eagles.
In a remarkable turnaround for conservation efforts in the San Bernardino Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust secured a significant victory by successfully raising million to purchase a critical 62.43-acre parcel near Big Bear Lake. This acquisition aims to protect the vital habitat of the prominent bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, which has captivated global audiences through continuous live-streaming of their nesting activities conducted by Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit dedicated to local wildlife preservation.
The contentious property, known as Moon Camp, was originally slated for a residential development of 50 homes, a plan first proposed in 1969. Environmental advocates expressed deep concern that such construction would pose severe threats to the local ecosystem, especially given the proximity of the nesting eagles.
The developer, Chicago-based RCK Properties, ultimately agreed to sell the land to the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust. Although the fundraising efforts began shortly after the passing of the land trust’s late executive director, Sandy Steers, the campaign gained substantial momentum. By a July 31 deadline set for fundraising completion, nearly half of the target amount was raised through small contributions, which highlighted the strength of community support for conservation initiatives.
A week before the cutoff, a substantial donation of .5 million from OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, pushed the fundraising total across the finish line, ensuring the property’s conservation. In an official statement, Jennifer Voisard, a representative from Friends of Big Bear Valley, confirmed the closure of the escrow deal.
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust plans to implement what they describe as “light-touch stewardship” for the Moon Camp area. This strategy includes minimal intervention to maintain the forest, with essential brush clearing and cleanup efforts to ensure the land serves as a public access point into the national forest while functioning as a wildlife corridor. Besides safeguarding the eagles, the trust aims to leverage this achievement to protect additional parcels that remain vital to the area’s biodiversity.
The community’s fervent support was evident throughout the fundraising phase, with over 14,000 students contributing letters of encouragement and creative expressions detailing their desire to safeguard the habitat of the beloved eagles. The live-streaming of Jackie and Shadow’s lives has developed a significant following, with Friends of Big Bear Valley boasting around 2.4 million social media followers across various platforms.
As the community celebrated this monumental win, there were hopes for continued efforts to enhance conservation in the region while raising awareness about the impacts of development on local wildlife. The successful acquisition of Moon Camp not only protects an essential habitat but also instills a renewed sense of purpose in the ongoing battle for local environmental conservation.
