Congratulations to the AFA’s photographer and campaigner TJ Watt, who through popular vote was tied for first place in the local Eco-Hero competition by Hemp & Company! We're proud of TJ, who's photography has gone around the world to highlight the beauty and the plight of BC’s endangered old-growth forests. Thanks for everyone's support and votes!
Logging company officials maintain harvesting increases in the Comox Lake watershed in recent decades had nothing to do with the extended boil water advisory in the Courtenay area. But as more severe storms wreck havoc on the ecosystem, which provides the drinking water for tens of thousands in the Comox Valley, a local conservation group says it's time to rethink forestry practices.
The Port Alberni Watershed Forest Alliance has been relentless in their campaign to save the old-growth forests around Port Alberni, at McLaughlin Ridge, the Cameron Valley Ancient Forest, Horne Mountain (above Cathedral Grove) and Katlum Creek. Led by Jane Morden and a great local team, they are real forest heroes in this province!
Here's a new Alberni Valley Times article about the old-growth forests at McLaughlin Ridge, which conservationists are pushing the BC government to protect: As logging continues in McLaughlin Ridge, the B.C. Teachers Federation voted to ask Island Timberlands to sell the forestry land it owns in the steeply sloped area. The motion passed Jan. 31 at a BCTF assembly of district representatives, urging the forestry company to sell McLaughlin Ridge to "an organization(s) that will conserve and preserve forest lands." The old growth forest is within the China Creek watershed, the drinking water source for more than 20,000 people in Port Alberni and Beaver Creek. Ken Zydyk, president of the Alberni Teachers Union, said the request for Island Timberlands to divest the land was first approved by public educators in Port Alberni. "There are many teachers concerned about the current practices of Island Timberlands," he said. "Teachers are uncomfortable that we put some of our salary towards our pension, it's like a savings account that we access later," Zydyk said, adding that the concern was if teachers' funds are "being used in a socially responsible way." The forestry company has met with municipal officials on almost a monthly basis since city council voted last August to join a lobbying effort to halt harvesting in McLaughlin Ridge. This push is being led by the Watershed Forest Alliance, a local environmental group that fears the forestry activity is unsustainable, harming McLaughlin Ridge's wildlife and compromising Port Alberni's source of drinking water.
The Ancient Forest Alliance would like to give great thanks to the local businesses, green enterprises, environmental foundations, artists and other organizations whose generous support has allowed us to more effectively campaign for the protection of BC’s endangered old-growth forests. See here for an overview of 2014 donors! For more details on supporting the AFA as a business, artist or other organization, see here. For a full list of businesses, artists and other organizations that have supported the AFA, see here.
The Ancient Forest Alliance is most grateful to the Mountain Equipment Co-op (www.MEC.ca) for their major support provided through their Community Contributions grant program. This funding support will allow the AFA to expand our capacity as an organization and strengthen our campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests on Vancouver Island! The AFA would also like to thank Innerlife Health Services (innerlife.ca) for their Community Clinic fundraiser, as well as Climbing Arborist (www.climbingarborist.com) and the Mat Fernandez Project for supporting the AFA through their film screening event. Thank you to all who were involved for your dedicated support!
Here's a new article in the Island Tides about the Central Walbran Valley's ancient forest being flagged for potential logging.
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