San Juan Preservation Trust launches effort to protect 30 acres on San Juan

||| FROM KELVIN BAKER for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST |||

The San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) is thrilled to announce a major new conservation initiative on the west side of San Juan Island: the future Mt. Ben West Preserve. This 30-acre property offers sweeping views of Haro Strait, with critical Garry oak habitat, rocky balds, veteran Douglas firs, and the opportunity for future public trail access.

“The Mt. Ben West Preserve has been a conservation and public access priority for the Preservation Trust for more than 20 years,” says Vickie Edwards, SJPT’s Conservation Director. “This property is a critical missing link between existing San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and SJPT preserves. Acquiring the parcel will offer the opportunity to create a continuous public trail from the shores of San Juan Island to the top of Mt. Ben.”

A generous anonymous donor has pledged to match every contribution, dollar-for-dollar, up to $750,000 through February 9, 2026—doubling the impact of all donations to protect a landscape that benefits wildlife, vital island habitat, public trail access, and future generations.

As with other Preservation Trust public access projects, the Mt. Ben West Preserve will provide:

• Public Recreation & Education: The preserve will eventually be open to residents and
  visitors alike to enjoy.
• Youth Engagement: Hands-on learning opportunities for local youth through SJPT’s
  Learning Landscapes program.
• Habitat Restoration: Through partnerships with the San Juan Islands Conservation
  District, young adults and local students will help enhance, restore, and manage critical
  habitats alongside SJPT's expert stewardship team.

“This is a rare chance to protect an iconic landscape and connect a vital corridor of conserved land,” Edwards added. “Together, we can secure this Preserve forever, enhance its Garry oak and madrone habitat, and create lasting trail access for people of all ages to enjoy.”

To support the Preservation Trust’s campaign to protect the future Mt. Ben West Preserve, please visit: www.sjpt.org/west

About the San Juan Preservation Trust:
The San Juan Preservation Trust (www.sjpt.org), founded in 1979, is a private, nonprofit, nationally accredited land trust dedicated to helping people and communities conserve land in the San Juan archipelago of Washington State. Together, with landowner partners and members/supporters, the Preservation Trust permanently protects more than 300 properties, 50 miles of shoreline, 25 miles of trails, and over 18,750 acres on 22 islands, including land now managed as public parks, nature preserves, wildlife habitat, and working farms and forests.

The Preservation Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and employs approximately 26 full- and part-time staff. SJPT headquarters are in Friday Harbor, WA. Financial support comes from the charitable contributions of some 3,000 individuals, families, and private foundations.