The Nature Trust of British Columbia has a goal to raise $294,000 by April 9 to buy about 100 acres of floodplain forest along the Xw茅sam (Salmon) River near Sayward north of Campbell River. 

Purchasing this 105.6 acre parcel of land would help to conserve and expand the non-profit's existing Salmon River Estuary Conservation Complex, increasing its total area to 1,037.8 acres (420 hectares), according to the conservation non-profit organization's website. 

鈥淭he risk of losing towering Sitka spruce, grand fir, western redcedar and Douglas-fir in this floodplain forest to development is real and the need to purchase and protect this vital habitat is urgent,鈥� says Dr. Jasper Lament, the non-profit's CEO, in a media release. 鈥淭rees in this forest are up to 120 years old and five Pacific salmon species, steelhead and blue-listed cutthroat throat depend on the Xw茅sam (Salmon) River." 

The river and estuary serve as essential habitats for several of the province's most iconic species, such as the great blue heron, the northern pygmy owl, and the Roosevelt elk, which is the largest subspecies of elk in North America.

As of March 27, the non-profit has raised $71,619 of its $294,000 goal. To donate, visit the .