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Double your impact when supporting the AFA until September 7th!

Jul 21 2022/in Announcements

We’re grateful to announce an anonymous supporter has generously offered to match donations made to the AFA dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000 until September 7th. This means for the next two months, when you give a gift to the AFA, it will have DOUBLE the impact!

Right now we’re at a critical point in the decades-long push to protect old-growth forests in BC. What happens in the next few years will determine the fate of these irreplaceable forests for decades to come.

The BC government has made bold promises to protect old-growth and has agreed – in principle – to defer millions of hectares based on the best available science. But they’re moving slowly, allowing many places to still be logged. Most crucially, they are failing to provide the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for conservation financing for First Nations communities which would help make the full suite of deferrals and permanent protection possible.

We must hold them to account. Until September 7th, double your impact when donating to AFA through our matching campaign. This support will allow us to continue our most important work, including:

Working with First Nations partners to support Indigenous-led protected areas initiatives and sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging. Cost: $20,000
Exploring and documenting endangered ancient forests with photography and video. This is a critical tactic for educating and mobilizing the public to speak up for old-growth forests and for holding the BC government accountable for its policies & promises. Cost: $3,000
Undertaking updated mapping on the status of endangered old-growth forests on BC’s south coast. Cost: $2,000
Building and strengthening relationships with municipalities and non-traditional allies such as unions, chambers of commerce, and tourism associations to build a broad-based movement of support for old-growth protection. Cost: $5,000

Change is possible, if only we continue to fight for it. Please help us keep the momentum going.

Here are some ways you can make your one-time or monthly gift:

• Visit our online donation page
• Phone 250-896-4007 (Mon-Fri)
• Mail a donation to: Ancient Forest Alliance, 205-620 View St Victoria, BC V8W 1J6

Redwood Sorrel

Jul 4 2022/in Educational

Looking like an oversized clover, the redwood sorrel (oxalis oregana) is one of BC’s loveliest and rarest rainforest plants, found only in a few scattered sites on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.

Because they have adapted to live on the shady forest floor, these plants are actually light-sensitive and will fold their leaves to protect themselves from intense sunlight. When the late afternoon sun creeps into a sorrel colony, the lucky observer will see thousands of leaves folding to ward off the glare.

On Vancouver Island, these exceedingly rare old-growth sorrel gardens reach their most magnificent expression in the Klanawa Valley in Huu-ay-aht territory. In these enchanted groves along the banks of the Klanawa River, delicate carpets of sorrel flowers and fairybell lilies are braided with wildlife trails made by Roosevelt elk, black bears, and coastal wolves, giving the impression of a manicured garden and trails deep in the rainforest. The idyllic forest scenes here are among the most beautiful we have ever encountered.

Canada’s fourth-widest tree located in North Vancouver, estimated to be over 1000 years old

Jun 28 2022/in News Coverage

June 27, 2022
City News
By Monika Gul

A tree recently located in a remote and rugged area of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park may be the fourth widest in Canada. The western redcedar is well over 1,000 years old and 5.8 metres wide, according to a preliminary measurement.

One of the widest trees in Canada was found in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver.

The tree, nicknamed “The North Shore Giant”, was located by Colin Spratt, a Vancouver big-tree hunter, and Ian Thomas of the Ancient Forest Alliance.

Thomas said he was completely awestruck when he came across the ancient western redcedar in the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.

“It really resonates with you, for me, at least deeply spiritually to encounter one of the these ancient beings that has survived over the centuries,” says Thomas.

“It’s sort of a deep spiritual reverence, I would say, as well as a total kind of giddy excitement to be able to be in the presence of something like this.”

Thomas said the tree is measured at 5.8 metres (19.1 feet) and they are “very confident (it is) over 1000 years old.”

He added that the measurements are tentative, and an official measurement will be done in the future.

Thomas said while the North Shore Giant is in a safe place, redcedar all over BC are in danger without protection from being cut down.

“The lion’s share of my work is really looking for these unprotected groves and working to try and protect them.”

Thomas said they are calling for the government to invest around $300 million to help ensure the safety of the trees.

“They’re incredibly important for the climate, for the ecology of the wide variety of local species, as well as for tourism and culture. And so what’s really important is that the government invests in protecting these forests.”

According to the Ancient Forest Alliance, 90% of the high productivity old-growth forests with the biggest trees and over 80% of the medium productivity old-growth forests have been logged in BC.

Read the original article.

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