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VANCOUVER: Big Tree Weekend (April 2-3)

Mar 22 2016/in Announcements

Hey Lower Mainland friends be sure to come out to the Big Tree Weekend from April 2-3 hosted by the Stanley Park Ecology Society (the AFA will be doing an old-growth ecology walk during the Saturday morning slot) and see some of the largest trees in BC right in the heart of Vancouver’s finest park! See DETAILS and get TICKETS here: https://stanleyparkecology.ca/education/public-programs/big-trees-weekend/

Council endorses Pop for Parks

Mar 22 2016/in News Coverage

Saanich council has put their support behind Pop for Parks, an initiative calling on the provincial government to direct unclaimed bottle deposits into a land acquisition fund.

On Monday, council voted 8-1 in favour of the resolution, which is to be submitted to the AVICC and the UBCM. If approved, B.C. residents could see $10 to $15 million annually put toward creating and protecting green spaces in the province.

The recommendation was brought to council in a joint report by Couns. Fred Haynes and Vic Derman. Haynes noted that about 20 per cent of bottles and cans are not returned, creating windfall profits for the beverage industry.

“What we’re seeking in this resolution is attention to that fund, and it might be that part of the fund is used for parks,” said Haynes. “The aim is to raise this issue and have that fund looked at as a possible source of revenue for parks.”

Likewise, Derman acknowledged that the money would do a lot of good for the local environment, even if it wasn’t entirely used to acquire green spaces.

“I think there is an opportunity to mandate that a fair amount of this unredeemed deposit on the part of the public should go to something like parks,” said Derman.

Coun. Leif Wergeland voted against the proposal, but only because he wanted council and residents to consider if there are other options where the money would be better spent.

“The acquisition and protection of ecologically sensitive private lands in B.C., I don’t think anyone around this table or in this room can really argue with that,” he said. “The question I think we have to ask ourselves and the greater community is, if these funds are accessible to us, acquiring and protecting parkland, is that the most important issue facing us? It could well be, but I think we should look at that before we just look at one area and say we’d like to put money into this.

“For that reason only, I support the environment, but on this issue, I’d like to be sure this is where our residents and council really want to put the money.”

Ancient Forest with some of the largest cedar trees in B.C. will be class A park

Mar 16 2016/in News Coverage

Great news! The province has established a new 11,900 hectare protected area east of Prince George that includes important tracts of the famous ancient redcedar groves in the inland temperate rainforest. Thanks to the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, the Northern Wetbelt Working Group (who have been working for a substantially more extensive, science-based protected areas network in the region to protect more of the inland temperate rainforest) and the province for this important step forward in old-growth forest protection!

Also take note you can still sign-on to the Northern Wetbelt Working Group's letter for expanded protection in the region (if you haven't already) at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16hq-R8ZOylR-wLSz9OjbxRdf4NYHYnG9Uo1Lu12qr0U/viewform

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PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A unique rainforest comprised of some of the largest cedar trees in British Columbia is set to become a provincial park.

Premier Christy Clark has announced that 119 square kilometres of forest in northern B.C. will become a class A provincial park under legislation to be introduced Wednesday.

The designation would protect the Ancient Forest, also known as Chun T'oh Wudujut to local First Nations, from timber harvesting and other commercial activity.

Located about 120 kilometres east of Prince George, the forest is part of the only known inland temperate rainforest in the world, and is home to many different plant and wildlife species.

Prince George MLA Shirley Bond says in a release that the 1,000-year-old trees are “historical natural wonders” with trunks measuring up to 16 metres around.

The province is also planning to work with the federal government to have the area considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site based on the outstanding value of the ancient trees.

An aerial shot of a clearcut in the Caycuse Watershed in Ditidaht Territory.

Victoria Buzz: Environmental advocates concerned over results of BC election

Oct 26 2026

Two prominent environmental advocacy groups have revealed concerns over the incoming Conservative Party of BC government and their mandate.

Announcements

NEW Video: BC Election 2026: Nature & Old-Growth Protection

Oct 22 2026

Watch EEA's Ken Wu provide an updated, comprehensive overview of the positions of the BC NDP, the BC Conservative Party, and the BC Greens on old growth and nature protection.

Announcements

BC Election 2026: Where do Parties Stand on Nature & Old-Growth?

Oct 16 2026

As we approach the BC election on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, here’s where BC’s major political parties stand on nature and old-growth forest protection.

Announcements