This is an invitation to Ithaca College folk: Ithaca College’s gorgeous Robinson Preserve (towards West Danby) is slated to be logged, supposedly just for diseased trees, at any time. This 78 acre woodlands with year-round stream valley is one of the most undisturbed mature woodlands with great native biodiversity in the area. Some of us have walked here for 15+ years, and we’re very sad that logging machinery will be going where no log roads yet exist with the threat of bringing in invasive plant seeds that are proven threats to native biodiversity, like garlic mustard. IC’s “reserve” across the road was already commercially logged last spring.

Some of us neighbors living next to the preserve are gathering next Sunday April 20 at 12:30 p.m. to bless and honor the forest, much of which will look very different once logging begins. Beautiful walking routes will be torn up by machinery dragging out around 150 trees.

Although glad that the Robinson Preserve will not supposedly be commercially logged over the years, we’re disappointed that IC is allowing logging, unlike Finger Lakes Land Trust and Cornell preserves, which contain diseased trees, too.

If you’d like to join us, drive south from Ithaca on Routes 34/96, turn right on Piper Road and go sever-tenths of a mile (bearing left at fork). Park along the road at mailbox 149. Drums and voices welcome. If logging hasn’t begun, you can check the logging route.

Becca Harber

Newfield, N.Y.