Entries by TJ Watt

Echo Lake BIODIVERSITY BLITZ! Sat May 31 – Sun June 1, 2014

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THIS WEEKEND, join the Ancient Forest Alliance along with a group of biologists and environmental experts for a weekend of biodiversity surveys, a guided walk and nature talks at Echo Lake. Located between Mission and Agassiz east of Vancouver, Echo Lake is a spectacular and endangered lowland old-growth forest. Come out to experience and learn about this unique ecosystem and find out more about the birds, amphibians, mammals, plants, fungi, and other living things that make Echo Lake their home!

Saturday, May 31st, 1:30pm-5pm: Citizens Science Day 
• Searching for Amphibians! with Barb Beasley
• Fungi Walks! with Erin Feldman, and Adolf & Oluna Ceska
• Mossome Mosses and Other Awesome Plants! 

Sunday, June 1st, 1:30pm-5pm: Biodiversity Nature Walk
Learn about old-growth forest characteristics and ecology, plant ID, forest-canopy research, and more!

**See details for meeting times & locations!**

**Participants should pre-register for either or both days by sending an email to info@ancientforestalliance.org and indicate which day (either or both) they would like to attend.  

Forest Giveaway Plan for Timber Companies Threatens BC’s Public Forest Lands! Please SPEAK UP Now – May 30 noon Deadline!

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In April, the BC Liberal government revived their proposal to allow major logging companies to receive exclusive logging rights over vast areas of public forest lands through the expansion of Tree Farm Licences. Despite being killed by widespread public opposition in 2013, they’ve resurrected this “forest giveaway scheme” like a zombie, in a bid to increase property rights for timber corporations on our public lands. These lands are vital for wildlife, recreation, scenery, clean water, wild salmon, First Nations, and small forestry operators.

Go to www.BCForestMovement.com and see here for more ways to speak up!  

Submission by Vicky Husband to the BC Government’s TFL-Expansion Plans

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"TFLs have always enabled monopolistic corporate control of our public forests and, over the long term, have not maintained the public benefits that were promised when they were awarded. The sorry state of BC’s coastal forests and coastal forest industry, where the majority of current TFLs exist, provides all the evidence needed to reject the creation of any more TFLs…"

Thank You to Earth Day Local Business Fundraisers!

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On behalf of B.C's endangered old-growth forests, we'd like to say 'Thank You' to all of the local businesses who held an event to support us on Earth Day, April 22nd: North Park Bike Shop, Ananda Ayurveda, Cafe 932, and the Grassroots Eco-Salon.  The AFA is supported by thousands of individual donors and small and independent businesses who allow us to continue our forest-saving campaigns.  Thank you so much for your support!

*POSTPONED* Date TBA: Kwakiutl First Nations Community RALLY in Port Hardy

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A community rally will be held sometime in the near future by the Kwakiutl First Nation band in Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, asking the BC government and major forest companies to respect their land and their treaty. The rally will be in regards to Island Timberlands' logging of a 700 year old ancient redcedar forest near their reserve in late December without consulting the band. 

VIDEO: “Big Lonely Doug,” Canada’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir tree!

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"Big Lonely Doug", a recently found old-growth Douglas-fir tree standing alone in a clearcut on southern Vancouver Island, has been officially measured to be the second largest Douglas-fir tree in Canada. Last week, renowned forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, who manages the BC Big Tree Registry run by the University of British Columbia and is also the co-author of the best-selling "Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon", measured the goliath tree.