Whidbey Island Forest

Henry Case purchased a 176-acre forest when he was 18. Now 81, he fulfills a lifelong quest to protect it from development. (Seattle Times)

A hike through a clear-cut forest in the North Cascades as a young man instilled in Henry Case a desire to preserve the forests. In 1946 he spent $840 to purchase 176 acres on Whidbey Island, WA, in a tax foreclosure sale. He was 18.

Now 81, the retired Seattle Symphony trombonist has donated his forest to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, fulfilling a lifelong goal of permanently protecting the property from clear-cutting or development, no matter who owns it.

In this short video by the Seattle Times, Case walks among the trees that he’s tended all of his life. The land trust estimates the value of development and timber rights at $1.5 million but Case says he doesn’t think about what it’s worth. He just wants it to remain forest forever.

CHANNEL: Seattle Times

Length: 2:32

Video and Production by Steve Ringman

VIEW: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/video/seattletimesvideo.html?bcpid=1543292770&bclid=1543290205&bctid=19014318001

SEE ALSO:

“Beloved Whidbey Island forest will grow on”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009009986_forest09m0.html