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One-Year Anniversary of Clayoquot Sound Old-Growth Protections

Jun 26 2025/in Announcements, Photo Gallery

History was made in Clayoquot Sound one year ago with the most significant expansion of old-growth protection in decades!

The Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, in partnership with the BC NDP government, declared the protection of 760 km2 of land in 10 new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino. These lands comprise some of the grandest and most intact coastal old-growth temperate rainforests on Earth.

The historic milestone also included significant support from provincial, federal and conservation sources to advance sustainable economic development opportunities for the communities.

A year on, we applaud the visionary leadership of the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nation for their work in protecting old-growth ecosystems in their territories while building pathways to conservation-based economies.

Victories like these serve as an inspiring model for what’s possible throughout BC. Clayoquot demonstrates that when First Nations’ protected area plans are supported through conservation financing, we can safeguard old-growth forests while supporting community economic, cultural, and social well-being.

From the mind-blowing ancient redcedar dubbed the “most impressive tree in Canada” on Flores Island to the world-famous ancient groves of Meares Island or the sweeping rainforest vistas of the Sydney River Valley, see what’s now protected thanks to this historic achievement!

Looking to explore this beautiful region? Be sure to check out Ahous Adventures, the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society and Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks.

Inspired by these successes? We’re actively working with several First Nations communities in BC to help establish new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in some of the world’s grandest old-growth and rarest ecosystems. Your support helps protect these irreplaceable forests for all who depend on them. Make a donation.

Flores Island

The most impressive tree in Canada! A giant redcedar measuring over 17 feet/5 meters wide near its base.

Tyson Atleo is a hereditary representative of the Ahousaht Nation.

A solid cedar on the flanks of Flores Island.

A huge melted-looking cedar amongst the grove.

Cedar nurse log

The čicyi Conservancy, Flores Island.

Cow Bay.

Sunset at Cow Bay.

Meares Island

The intact rainforests of Meares Island.

Big Tree Trail

Joe Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation leads a tour on Meares.

Hanging Garden Tree

Cedar on Big Tree Trail

Sydney River Valley

The emerald-green rainforests of the Sydney River Valley, Ahousaht territory.

Giant spruce in the valley bottom.

Kiišḥniqʷus Conservancy

Roadless wilderness: an incredibly rare sight on Vancouver Island today.

Canada’s Most Impressive Tree – Flores Island

Shooting Stars

Jun 13 2025/in Educational

A beautiful highlight of Vancouver Island’s endangered Garry oak meadows is the shooting star flower. These vivid magenta to lavender-coloured blooms, with their swept-back wing-like petals and fused anthers forming a pointed beak, seem like flocks of tiny hummingbirds in mid-flight.

On Vancouver Island, we have two species of this flower: the few-flowered or dark-throat shooting star and Henderson’s shooting star. The few-flowered shooting star (pictured here) is distinguished by its narrower, elongated leaves.

The shooting star is unusual among flowers because it produces no nectar for pollinating insects. However, its protein-rich pollen is a critical food source for larval bees, making it valuable to queens just starting their colonies and seeking protein for their first round of developing offspring.

The flower is choosy about its customers, only releasing pollen to insects that can practice something called “buzz pollination” (also called “sonication”). In this technique, an insect vibrates its thoracic muscles at a frequency that dislodges the stuck pollen from the flower.

Not all pollinators have mastered this nifty trick. Honeybees, for instance, seem incapable of buzz pollination and so cannot effectively pollinate the shooting star. Our native bumblebees, however, are buzz masters, providing a critical ecological service and gaining privileged access to this protein-rich prize.

Shooting stars are an early highlight of our oak meadows and woodland glades. By the time the camas is in full flood, the last magenta meteors of shooting stars are already fading in the grass under the dreamy murmur of bumblebee wings.

We’re grateful for our creative business supporters!

Jun 12 2025/in Thank You

We’re incredibly grateful for the many creative ways our supporters help advance the movement to protect endangered old-growth forests in British Columbia. From hosting benefit concerts and donating a portion of art sales, to workplace giving and foundation support, there are so many ways to make a difference!

Special thanks to:

Hausplants, GRDN Collective, Bloom Effect, and The Sprouts, who have generously donated a portion of proceeds from their Green Auto Greenhouse concerts to Ancient Forest Alliance for the past few years.
Barbara Brown, who donates 5% of annual sales from her art pieces to our old-growth campaign.
Stillwater Nature Spa, one of our valued business supporters.
Workplace giving programs, such as The Provincial Employees Community Services Fund, which allow BC Public Service employees the opportunity to donate toward old-growth protection.
The Frosted Tips Foundation, for their generous ongoing support.

Your creativity, dedication, and passion for protecting these endangered ecosystems is inspiring, and we’re very grateful!

If you own or work at a business that shares our vision and would like to support old-growth protection through a one-time or monthly donation, contact info@ancientforestalliance.org. We’d love to hear from you!

NOW HIRING: Forest Campaigner

Mar 3 2026

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is hiring a passionate Forest Campaigner to join our team and help protect old-growth forests in BC!

Employment

It’s AFA’s 16th Birthday!

Feb 26 2026

On Tuesday, February 24th, we’re celebrating 16 years of working together with you, our community, to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests in BC. To mark the date, will you chip in $16 or more to support our work?

Announcements

Budget 2026 Shortchanges Nature Protection and Sustainable Forestry Transition At a Critical Time for British Columbia

Feb 20 2026

BC’s Budget 2026 fails to provide the funding needed to secure lasting protection for endangered ecosystems and at-risk old-growth forests in the province.

Media Release