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Western Skunk Cabbage

Apr 11 2023/in Educational

A sure sign of spring on the coast is the emergence of the spectacular western skunk cabbage. These magnificent plants, with their gargantuan leaves, flourish in wet, swampy areas in the rainforest and are among the earliest flowering plants to grace our forests. Their pungent odour is the chemical equivalent of birdsong, though instead of attracting a mate of the same species, the skunk cabbage’s olfactory music lures in flies and beetles to pollinate its dense column of flowers called a spadix.

Bears relish skunk cabbage, feasting on it after they emerge from hibernation in the early spring when other food resources are scarce. If you come across a skunk cabbage garden in the forest, look for bear tracks in the mud and pits where the hungry animals have dug up their swamp salad. Don’t be tempted to follow their example though, as the leaves of skunk cabbage contain crystals of calcium oxalate, the same substance that makes rhubarb leaves toxic.

Also called a swamp lantern because of its bright yellow spathe, encountering dozens of these bright “lanterns” glowing in the shadow of ancient cedars on a cool spring morning, while varied thrushes and pacific wrens pour out their music, is one of the quintessential pleasures of the coastal rainforest.

Western skunk cabbage, with their gargantuan leaves, flourish in wet, swampy areas in the rainforest and are among the earliest flowering plants to grace our forests.

A turquoise ocean splashes against craggy rocks with lush, green old-growth forest and blue-hued mountains in the background.

Earth Month Contest: Prints for Forest Protection!

Apr 7 2023/in Take Action

Earth Month Contest Alert! ?

To honour Earth Month, we’re hosting a PRINT GIVEAWAY to help protect endangered ancient forests in BC! All you need to do to enter is Send a Message to the BC government calling for funding to help protect old-growth forests using our recently UPDATED take-action tool! Help us reach 15,000 messages by sharing the link with friends and family as well.

*Note, those who have already sent a message to the BC government using our updated tool (since March 30, 2023) will automatically be entered into the draw. If you sent messages prior to that, you can send a NEW one today.

Send a Message to Enter!

Included in the prize is a signed 20”x30” fine art print from Ancient Forest Alliance photographer, TJ Watt, and an “I ? Ancient Forests” tote bag.

The winner will choose their print from a number of picturesque scenes including the Brooks Peninsula, Avatar Grove, Caycuse Valley, Nootka Island, Great Bear Rainforest, Big Lonely Doug, and more. See them here or browse the gallery below.

Speaking up really does make a difference!

Thanks, in part, to the tens of thousands of letters sent in by people like you over the past few years, we’re seeing many of our main campaign requests materialize, such as the BC government’s recent commitment to protect 30% of the province by 2030, which will double the amount of area currently under legislated protection; creating a conservation financing mechanism to help protect old-growth forests through the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (this is huge!); prioritizing biodiverse areas for protection and creating a new BC Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework; investing in a transition to a lower-volume, higher-value forest industry that focuses on processing smaller diameter trees; and more.

However, we’re not there yet

There are still a few major provincial policy and funding gaps to be filled to make sure the government’s commitments lead to protecting the most endangered old-growth forests while supporting the sustainable economic diversification of First Nations communities, whose unceded lands these are and who have the final say in what gets protected — or not.

So please, add your voice to the thousands of individuals and hundreds of businesses who are also calling on the BC government to fund old-growth protection!

Send a Message to Enter

The contest will close at 11:59pm on Earth Day (April 22, 2023) and is open to residents of Canada. The winner will be announced the following Monday (April 24, 2023). We will contact the winner by email, so be sure to add Ancient Forest Alliance to your contacts, so it doesn’t end up in your junk/spam folder.

To keep track of news, photos, and future contests, be sure to follow Ancient Forest Alliance on Instagram and Facebook, and tag your friends in our giveaway post so they can get involved, too!

For the forests,

The AFA team

Brooks Peninsula Shoreline, taken by AFA photographer, TJ Watt

The famed Avatar Grove has been closed since 2022 and unmaintained since 2018.

Big Lonely Doug, Pacheedaht territory.

An aerial capture of Vernon Bay, with shining blue water surrounded by craggy rocks on the left bordered by lush green old-growth treetops.

Thank You to Our Amazing Business Supporters!

Apr 6 2023/in Thank You

We would like to extend a massive thank you to the following businesses for generously supporting the old-growth campaign.

Thank you to:

WildPlay Element Parks, whose Canadian division voted to contribute their 1% For The Planet donation to Ancient Forest Alliance.

Patagonia Victoria for not only their ongoing support, but who have graciously been selling AFA merchandise in their store for over a year now. If you’ve had your eye on a Big Lonely Doug tee or AFA tote bag, head to Patagonia’s storefront at 616 Yates St. in Victoria to scoop one up for yourself!

Flow Motion Aerials and West Coast Trail Bus Express Inc. for their ongoing generous gifts.

Your support makes our important work possible and we’re extremely grateful!

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