Entries by TJ Watt

Drones used in BC’s Old-Growth Forest Campaigns – Walbran Valley conflict escalates

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Conservationists are employing a new tool in the battle to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests – remotely-piloted drones. The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is using a small drone equipped with a GoPro camera to monitor and document the endangered old-growth forests of the Central Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island. This has allowed the organization to capture aerial video footage of old-growth forests threatened by logging on steep, rugged terrain that otherwise would take hours to hike to. 

New Photo Gallery and Time-Lapse of Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction!

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Over the September long weekend, AFA’s TJ Watt and a small group of dedicated volunteers worked hard to construct a crucial new section of the boardwalk at Avatar Grove. n the Upper Grove, the steep slope leading down to the creek had become quite rough and slippery, so to help protect the tree roots and make it safer for everyone visiting, the group built two new platforms and sets of stairs leading down the hill. They also installed a beautiful new bench by the Gnarly Tree!

VIDEO: "Did You Know?" Ancient Trees on Shaw TV

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Here is another "Did You Know" clip by the AFA's Ken Wu on Shaw TV, this time regarding BC's largest trees (Red Creek Fir, Cheewhat Giant, Big Lonely Doug, Lynn Valley's historical giants) and the threat to the Central Walbran Ancient Forest. The AFA's Hannah Carpendale is seen walking around the largest trees in Canada.
 

Forests on the March

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Be sure to check out AFA photographer TJ Watt's photo of a sitka spruce forest near Nitinat Lake in the latest issue of Scientific American magazine! The article speaks with Dr. Sally Aitken of the UBC Faculty of Forestry on her work to help trees adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Sally has also helped with the recent revival of the BC Big Tree Registry as well!

PHOTO GALLERY: Central Walbran Ancient Forest – Block 4403

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Here are some fantastic images from part of the endangered Central Walbran Ancient Forest shot in early July by AFA's TJ Watt. The pictures were taken in the '4403' cutblock proposed by Teal-Jones (see map in gallery) just a few hundred metres from where people camp. This section of forest contains some absolutely incredible old-growth redcedar trees as well as some sensitive limestone karst features. Volunteers from the Friends of Carmanah Walbran have flagged a Witness Route into this area marked with yellow flagging tape making it easier to access now.

Please take 30 seconds to send a letter to the BC government asking them to protect the endangered Central Walbran and Edinburgh Mt Ancient Forests here: www.BCForestMovement.com  Thank you!!

PHOTOGALLERY at:
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