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Haida Gwaii Photos: Yakoun River Old-Growth Forests

Dec 19 2025/in Photo Gallery

Ancient Forest Alliance photographer TJ Watt travelled to Haida Gwaii this fall as part of his work as a National Geographic Explorer, supported by the Trebek Initiative. There, he had a chance to explore some of the spectacular old-growth forests along the Yakoun River, one of the most productive river systems on Haida Gwaii.

In one unique area, TJ came across an old-growth Sitka spruce meadow that felt like entering a vast golden hall, where giant trees rose like ancient pillars above grassy glades. Hundreds of massive, moss-cloaked trunks glowed in every direction. It was one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen!

See incredible photos of the spruce meadow and other remarkable groves along the Yakoun in the gallery below.

The six AFA team members stand beside each other in front of an old-growth Douglas-fir tree.

Help AFA raise $250,000 by December 31st – we’re over halfway there!

Dec 18 2025/in Announcements

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The Canadian Press: Eby says no to harvesting old-growth to extend life of B.C. pulp mill

Dec 18 2025/in News Coverage

The Canadian Press
December 4, 2025

Original article here.

VICTORIA – The British Columbia government is looking for ways to help a pulp mill closing on Vancouver Island, Premier David Eby said Wednesday, but logging the province’s old-growth forests for pulp is not an option.

Eby was scheduled to meet Wednesday with the head of the union representing the 350 Domtar workers who are set to lose their jobs, as well as the mayor of North Cowichan, which includes the area where the mill is located.

A team from the Ministry of Jobs will be going to the community of about 1,500 people to identify opportunities around retraining and employment, the premier said, adding the government was mulling ways to keep some jobs at the site.

“If there’s something else we can do, absolutely,” he told an unrelated news conference earlier Wednesday. “But the idea that we would pulp old growth in order to buy a little bit of time is not a solution we’re looking for.”

Eby said the province was looking for “long-term, sustainable solutions.”

Domtar announced the closure Tuesday, citing continued poor pricing for pulp and lack of access to affordable fibre as driving factors behind the closure.

Eby said there is seven million cubic meters of available fibre on Vancouver Island, but those forests aren’t being harvested because the costs of cutting them and moving the wood to a facility doesn’t make economic sense.

“I accept that there are key restrictions on harvesting old growth, cutting down old-growth trees, that have driven up the price and access to fibre on Vancouver Island. I believe this is a necessary decision,” the premier said.

“Pulping old growth is a temporary strategy at best, and we need a long-term strategy.”

In 2023, the provincial and federal governments announced a combined $18.8 million for the Crofton mill to aid in the production of water-resistant paper packaging to replace single-use plastics and create additional jobs.

Eby said Wednesday that “for various reasons, Domtar was unable to take advantage of that,” adding, “I don’t fault them for that.”

B.C. Conservative MLA Ward Starmer called the mill’s closure a “five-alarm dumpster fire” during question period in the legislature.

“The Crofton pulp mill has operated for almost 70 years, through thick and thin, good times and bad. And now it’s closing on this forests minister’s watch,” he said.

Starmer said four mills have closed in four weeks in B.C., while the province has the power to reduce administrative costs, approve permits faster and streamline access to fibre.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said news of the closure in Crofton was a “gut punch.”

The forest sector is facing significant challenges, including low pulp and lumber prices along with U.S. duties and tariffs, he said.

Parmar said the New Democrat government is committed to the workers in Crofton and every forestry worker across the province to “work together to stabilize this sector and to transform it so no worker is put in this position ever again.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025

Note to readers:This is a corrected story. A previous version said Premier David Eby was meeting with the mayor of Crofton to discuss the closure of a mill in the community. In fact, he was to meet with the mayor of North Cowichan.

2025 Activity Report & Financials

Apr 30 2026

2025 was a milestone year for the Ancient Forest Alliance and the old-growth campaign. Despite the BC government's backsliding on many of its old-growth commitments, there was still much work to be proud of, including celebrating our 15th year working to protect ancient forests. Check out our 2025 Activity Report & Financials to see the impact YOU made on 2025, plus, find out what we have in store for 2026!

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