MP for Langley-Aldergrove Tako van Popta visits Blaauw Eco Forest, a 30 acre biodiverse land gifted to Trinity Western University by the Blaauw family for public enjoyment, education and research.
MP Tako van Popta is a Trinity Western graduate and a supporter of local environmental initiatives. On Tuesday, July 14, Mr. van Popta visited the Blaauw Eco Forest, together with philanthropist Ann Blaauw, wife of the late Mr. Thomas Blaauw whom the forest is named after.
Dr. David Clements, TWU Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, accompanied them to introduce the forest’s biodiverse wealth.
Since 2012, the Blaauw family has donated more than $5 million to Trinity Western for its purchase of this biodiverse land. It is the Blaauw family’s desire to give back to the Langley community, and to celebrate and preserve the area’s natural beauty. During the grand opening of the forest on September 2013, the place was named Blaauw Eco Forest in memory of Mr. Thomas Blaauw.
Located in the lowlands of Glen Valley in the Township of Langley, the 30 acre Blaauw Eco Forest is a rich ecosystem of mixed and coniferous forests, and features ponds and a bog.
The forest is protected by a restrictive covenant to preserve it in its natural state, in perpetuity. This covenant is administered by Trinity Western University, and preserves the forest for the benefit of future generations.
Every year, Trinity Western students conduct research on the property. Researchers have discovered over 115 animal species in the forest, including at-risk species such as red-legged frogs and pacific sideband snails.
Mark Haddock, L.L.B., an environmental lawyer, affirms the preciousness of the forest, “When we first discovered this forest, we were quite pleased and surprised at the same time. Forests of this age, near the Fraser River, in low elevation, have largely been removed during the history of settlement in this area.”
“Through the process of farming over a century, a lot of forests were removed. So we were quite pleased and surprised to find a forest of this condition still existing.”
Ted Goshulak, an avid bird watcher, echoes this sentiment: “Areas like the Blauuw Eco-forest are very important as our society continues to develop. To have an intact area where species like birds, mammals, insects and amphibians can live and have their lives -- it’s just becoming a rarity.”
Christopher Hall, TWU Lands Manager, says, “This piece of land has been a wonderful blessing to TWU. It has so many varied types of habitat here. It’s rare to have so many different habitats, so many different ecosystems, in such close proximity to each other.”
The Blauuw Eco Forest is a living outdoor lab. Students and scientists like Vanessa Jones (BSc Biology, 2019) have been doing restoration projects in the area, “I feel incredibly privileged that Trinity Western has this property, to be able to see this amazing forest and how it functions.”
“As a society we cannot exist without God’s creation yet so often we ignore it,” says Dr. Clements, “So we need places like this, special places where people can access the creation and cherish what God has given us. It’s an incredible resource for us now and for generations to come.”
To see the Blaauw Eco Forest documentary, please visit Trinity Western’s Vimeo.
_______________________
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to find and fulfill their purpose in life. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vibrant faith community devoted to supporting godly leaders seeking to have a transformational impact on culture.
For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.