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AFA photographer TJ Watt stands beside two large old-growth Douglas-fir trees in the Children's Forest along James Creek on Cortes Island.

NEW PHOTO GALLERY featuring Cortes Island’s endangered forests!

Jan 30 2012/in Photo Gallery

Follow the link here to see the new images: https://ancientforestalliance.org/photos-media/

Cortes Island, a northern Gulf Island between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, is home to some of the last 1% of old-growth Douglas fir groves within the endangered “Dry Maritime” forests along BC’s southern coast. These are some of the most extensive remaining stands and are owned by corporate logging giant Island Timberlands.

Local residents are staunchly opposed to the planned industrial logging of these ancient and mature forests and other sensitive ecosystems. The protection of these forests will take a willingness of Island Timberlands to sell their lands at a fair market value – not at an overinflated price – and for various levels of government (particularly the provincial government) and other organizations and individuals to provide the funds.

For lands not purchased for protection, the company must conduct its forestry operation in line with community eco-forestry values and standards. Ultimately stronger private managed forest land regulations are needed in BC.

Support the Cortes Island activists at: wildstands.wordpress.com
Sign the Ancient Forest Alliance’s petition to protect BC’s old-growth forests and to ban raw log exports at: ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/

Concerned local citizen Oliver H. stands near large old-growth Douglas-fir trees in the endangered forests of Cortes Island.

Save Cortes Island’s Endangered Forests!

Jan 23 2012/in Take Action

URGENT! Cortes Island’s Threatened Forests Need Your Help! Please write to BC’s Minister of Environment Terry Lake below.

Cortes Island, a northern Gulf Island between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, is home to some of the last 1% of old-growth Douglas-fir groves within the endangered “Dry Maritime” forests along BC’s southern coast. These are some of the most extensive remaining stands and are owned by corporate logging giant Island Timberlands.

See the beautiful NEW PHOTO GALLERY of Cortes Island’s endangered old-growth and mature forests here: www.ancientforestalliance.org/photos.php?gID=12

Local residents are staunchly opposed to the planned industrial logging of these ancient and mature forests and other sensitive ecosystems. The protection of these forests will take a willingness of Island Timberlands to sell their lands at a fair market value – not at an overinflated price – and for various levels of government (particularly the provincial government) and other organizations and individuals to provide the funds. For lands not purchased for protection, the company must conduct its forestry operation in line with community eco-forestry values and standards. Ultimately stronger private managed forest land regulations are needed in BC.

Please WRITE A QUICK EMAIL as soon as possible to BC’s Minister of Environment, Hon. Terry Lake at: terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca . Ask that the BC government help fund the purchase of endangered old-growth stands, sensitive ecosystems, and other high priority lands for conservation currently owned by Island Timberlands. ***BE SURE to include your FULL NAME and ADDRESS so they know you are a real person!

To keep up-to-date with the local activists campaign to protect Cortes Island’s forests and see photos, videos, and more, visit the Wildstands website! https://wildstands.wordpress.com/

Also, please sign and circulate our petition to protect BC’s remaining endangered old-growth forests here: ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/

Salt Spring Island a ‘model’ for Cortes Island advocates to prevent logging of pristine B.C. forests.

Jan 19 2012/in News Coverage

Direct link to video: https://youtu.be/CNryQq75rAE

As deadline looms for Island Timberlands to begin logging on Cortes Island, advocates are hoping for a re-enactment of an earlier success story to protect the area’s pristine forests.

“If Salt Spring Island is a model of what can happen, Island Timberlands needs to sell the land at the appraised value, not at an inflated value of the land that locals want to see protected…to make sure that if there’s logging, it’s in line with community values.”

Ken Wu, co-founder of the Victoria-based Ancient Forest Alliance, said if Cortes Island can generate enough public pressure, it may be able to repeat the events of 2001, when environmental advocates on Salt Spring Island pushed Texada Land Corporation to sell part of their land and save sensitive areas from logging.

Wu said he was “impressed by the tenacity of people on Cortes Island,” who have just submitted a petition with over 6,200 names to Island Timberlands to work towards more sustainable logging on the island.

Direct link to Vancouver Observer article: https://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/earthmatters/2012/01/14/salt-spring-island-model-cortes-island-advocates-prevent-logging

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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