Entries by TJ Watt

Celebration of Nature, Music and Dance brings artists together to protect forests

"Celebration of Nature, Music and Dance" took place in a unique setting at Tzvi’s Place, 1823 E 2nd Ave in Vancouver. Music and dance started last night, Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30pm and ran through Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 2:00am. The event was described as "honoring our Ancient Forests with incredibly talented musicians, dancers and artists."

The event was partially a fundraiser for the Ancient Forest Alliance, which is a new British Columbian organization working to protect the endangered old-growth forests of BC and to ensure sustainable forestry jobs in the province. It was founded in January of 2010 by former Western Canada Wilderness Committee activists Ken Wu, TJ Watt, and others, and by Vancouver old-growth activist Michelle Connolly. I spoke with Michelle Connolly about the groups mission to be a grassroots environmental organisation working to foster knowledge and connection to these forests, as well as to advocate politically for their protection.

Fundraising Update

So far 200 supporters have contributed $8854 since we launched our funding drive on March 22, with a minimum goal of raising $20,000 by June 21.

Big Trees Pedal Powered Tour

10 cyclists will be riding 260 kilometers to the biggest trees in Canada by Port Renfrew, the Red Creek Fir and the San Juan Spruce and to the spectacular Avatar Grove, from June 3 to 6 to raise funds and awareness for the Ancient Forest Alliance!

Celebration of Nature, Music and Dance – Ancient Forests and Sound

Old-growth forests are our natural heritage, and BC’s south coast holds one of the last such ecosystems on Earth. Our ancient forests support a complex network of which we are all part, yet these forests continue to be logged at a rate that will soon lead to their extinction if we do not make a change. The Ancient Forest Alliance is a grassroots environmental organization that works to foster knowledge and connection to these forests, as well as to advocate politically for their protection.

Prospect of logging in Douglas fir ecosystem above Nanoose Bay worries neighbouring municipalities

To the Nanoose First Nation, District Lot No. 33 is a prime piece of forest in the middle of its traditional territory, rich with towering old-growth Douglas firs over which the band holds legal timber harvesting rights.

To neighbours, environmentalists and municipal officials throughout the region, DL 33 is a pristine example of the endangered coastal Douglas fir ecosystem found only in B.C.’s Georgia Basin and Washington State’s San Juan Islands.

Victoria Natural History Society article

A new organization has recently emerged in the world of BC’s non-profit environmental community: the Ancient Forest Alliance. Founded in January 2010 by former Wilderness Committee activists, the new organization seeks to continue the grassroots education and mobilization campaigns to protect old-growth forests, but with a new twist: without charitable status, which will enable the organization to get more political in its criticisms or endorsements of politicians. This will become a great motivator for the BC government and all political parties to embrace a conservation agenda to protect the disappearing ancient forests of Vancouver Island and southern British Columbia. In addition, the organization will be building broad-based support among First Nations, businesses, faith groups, scientists, and members of naturalist clubs for ancient forest protection.