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Eco-group hopes premier will protect ‘Christy Clark Grove’

Apr 23 2012/in News Coverage

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on Premier Christy Cark to protect a newly discovered and endangered old-growth forest that now bears her name.

The Christy Clark Grove — located on unprotected Crown land in the Gordon River Valley near Port Renfrew — rests 500 metres away from a sprawling swath of clearcut Douglas firs and red cedars that AFA co-founder T.J. Watt came across in early April after viewing satellite imagery of some of the last remaining old-growth forests on southern Vancouver Island.

“We’re dealing with the guts and feathers of an incredible rainforest that once covered our island,” Watt, 27, said Saturday from his home in nearby Metchosin.

“By naming this grove after Christy Clark, it helps draw the attention we need to help protect these areas,” he said.

Watt also discovered a Douglas fir with a circumference of 9.5 metres in the grove, making it Canada’s eighth-widest known Douglas fir.

Its name: The Clark Giant.

Watt said he and AFA co-founder Ken Wu are trying to pressure the provincial government into adopting an old-growth policy that will inventory ancient forests growing more scarce on Vancouver Island, the southern mainland of B.C., and the Interior.

The group also wants to see sustainable logging done to 2nd growth forests instead of logging the “biggest, best valley-bottom trees,” said Watts.

According to the AFA, 75 per cent of the Island’s productive old-growth forests have been logged, including 90 per cent of the biggest trees in the valley bottoms.

Christy Clark Grove is not far from Avatar Grove — named and brought to public’s attention by the AFA in December 2009, when some of the trees were due to be harvested.

After an increase in public pressure and an influx of tourists wanting to look at the big trees, the grove was protected by the provincial government.

“[Clark] holds the state of her own grove in her hands,” said Watt. “If she chooses to not protect the endangered Christy Clark Grove, or other old-growth forests, then her own grove will fall.”

Clark could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Forest Alliance names old growth trees after Premier

Apr 23 2012/in News Coverage

The Giant Clark towers over other mighty trees in the Christy Clark Grove near Port Renfrew. In honour of Earth Day, the Ancient Forest Alliance is naming a recently found grove of near record-size old growth trees the “Christy Clark Grove.” Ken Wu with the Ancient Forest Alliance tells us the reason behind the naming.

“We’re hoping to motivate Premier Clark to protect the Christy Clark Grove. It would be unfortunate if she were to allow a grove named after her to get cut down. And, more importantly, I’m hoping that she will develop a plan to protect endangered old growth forests across BC.”

Wu says already 75 per cent of Vancouver Island’s productive old-growth forests have been logged, including 90 per cent of the biggest trees in the valley bottoms.

Original article: https://www.cfax1070.com

Ancient Forest Alliance asks Victoria to protect grove

Apr 22 2012/in News Coverage

The Ancient Forest Alliance is appealing to the provincial government to protect endangered old-growth forests by dubbing a recently found grove of massive trees Christy Clark Grove.

The grove, which the AFA found on unprotected Crown land near Port Renfrew, boasts a Douglas fir with a circumference of 9.5 metres, making it the eighth widest known Douglas fir in Canada. The group has nicknamed the fir the Clark Giant and a massive red cedar has been dubbed the Gnarly Clark.

“We’re hoping that Christy Clark won’t let the Christy Clark Grove get cut down and will show some leadership by creating a plan to protect B.C.’s endangered old-growth forests,” said AFA co-founder TJ Watt.

The grove is in the Gordon River valley, not far from Avatar Grove, an area which the AFA brought to public attention shortly before some of the grove was due to be harvested. After public pressure the grove was protected by the provincial government.

Big trees have become an integral part of Port Renfrew’s tourist trade and a boardwalk is being built at Ava-tar Grove to accommodate visitors. However, the province is continuing with an unsustainable forest strategy and has not followed through on a commitment to create a new legal tool to protect B.C.’s largest trees and groves, said AFA co-founder Ken Wu.

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