Beautiful, breathtaking, and Part of us

On the back of Bryan Hennessy’s business card, there is a graph showing the rise in carbon dioxide (C02) levels in earth’s atmosphere. For Bryan, it’s more than data –  it’s a call to action. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting the natural spaces we all depend on. Seeing the graph for the first time transformed Bryan’s perspective, inspiring him to dedicate much of his time and effort to helping protect and steward land for carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and adaptation. For Bryan, the question “Why I Love this Land?” is easy to answer.

“I love the land because it’s beautiful and breathtaking and part of us,” Bryan says. “The land is what supports the ecosystem and us, so you gotta love the land when you look at it as the life-giving source that it is.”

Most Saturdays, Whatcom Land Trust hosts “Work Parties” where volunteers and community partners help restore Land Trust properties — from planting native trees, to removing invasive species, to spreading mulch to help enrich the soil. At almost every work party, you can find Bryan with his sleeves rolled up (or in a fully rainproof suit) working to steward the land he loves.

He sees his volunteer work and his donations to the Land Trust as part of a larger legacy. One that ensures the preservation of Whatcom County’s special places for those who come after us, especially in the face of a changing climate.

“Think about what your children will have,” Bryan says. “I would love future generations to have the access to nature that I have seen. I want my children, and their children, to have access to the mountains, the environment, and the pure joy of being in nature.”