Entries by TJ Watt

Not All Is Well In B.C.’s Woods

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"It might surprise you to learn that there is a place just a few hours from Victoria, B.C. that is home to Canada's version of the American redwoods. It's a place where you can walk amongst groves of centuries-old trees, some with trunks as wide as your living room; where you can swim in pools of emerald-green water by the base of cascading waterfalls; where bears, cougars, and wolves still roam the wild, rugged, temperate rainforest as they have for millennia. And it may come as more of surprise to learn that its days could now be numbered unless something is done to finally protect it."

Taped trees in Walbran valley a red flag for environmental group

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Conservationists are concerned a pristine area of old-growth forest near Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park is under threat after spotting logging and surveying tape in the area. “This is a nationally significant area with some of Canada’s grandest forests,” said Ken Wu from the Ancient Forest Alliance.
 

Canada’s grandest old-growth rainforest at risk from logging, survey tape discovered

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“Because of the ideal growing conditions in the region, Canada’s temperate rainforests reach their most magnificent proportions in the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. "It's our version of America's redwoods. Unfortunately, the upper half of the Walbran Valley remains open for logging. The area currently threatened, as well as the Castle Grove, constitute the most ecologically significant and intact sections left in the Upper Walbran Valley. They must be protected."

Canada’s Grandest Rainforest at Risk from Old-growth Logging as Survey Tape is discovered in the Heart of the Walbran Valley

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Port Renfrew, British Columbia – One of Canada’s most iconic and grandest old-growth temperate rainforests is under threat as signs of potential logging have been discovered in the heart of the Upper Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island. Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) activists TJ Watt and Jackie Korn recently documented survey tape marked “Falling Boundary” and “Road Location” in the Central Walbran Ancient Forest, one of the last, largely-intact sections of the unprotected portion of the valley.

THANK YOU to LUSH, MEC, Patagonia, and the Evergreen Foundation

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The Ancient Forest Alliance is most grateful for the major support of ethical companies and foundations in helping our organization continue our work to protect BC's endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry. We are giving great THANKS to LUSH, MEC, Patagonia, and the Evergreen Foundation for their support!

VIDEO: Reexamining the Forest

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This great video by Wyatt Visuals, featuring researcher Ira Sutherland and Tla-o-qui-aht canoe carver Joe Martin, describes their work to measure the ecosystem services of Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests, including for First Nations cultural uses, in Nuu-chah-nulth territory in 2014.

Avatar Grove Boardwalk: Preliminary Phase Complete – THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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THANKS to your support, we've raised over $12,000 in 2014 so far and have now completed the basic, preliminary phase of the boardwalk, including including vital bridges, steps, tree-viewing platforms, and walkways over several sensitive, steep, slippery and wet sections. This is an incredible improvement from before and one that has been enjoyed by thousands of people already from all across the world. If you've yet to visit the grove since the work began, now's a great time to do so! Funding Still Needed for 2015 Upgrades..