Entries by TJ Watt

Avatar Grove: Seeing the forest for the ancient trees

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“There’s so little of this lowland, monumental forest left,” said Mr. Wu. “Luckily, as a result of massive public pressure, this area was saved. It’s one of the finest groves of old growth in B.C. … and it is generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for the local economy each year.”

Jon Cash, a director of Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce and owner of Soule Creek Lodge, said the economic impact of the trees isn’t something environmentalists have dreamed up.

Saving the biggest, oldest trees

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"In town, I spoke with Jon Cash, the former president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce and co-proprietor of Soule Creek Lodge. He explained that for about a century Port Renfrew was a lumber town, but when the main company in the area moved its centre of operations to Lake Cowichan in 1990 it caused economic difficulties. 'We had to re-invent ourselves,' said Cash. 'We've recently started promoting tall tree tourism, and it's working.'

Port Renfrew, known as the 'Big Tree Capital of Canada,' is well positioned since many of the nation's largest trees are found in the area. But it's not easy, for the lumber industry covets old-growth trees, which are far more valuable than second-growth trees, and is quietly cutting down as many as possible."

Tall Tree Music Festival – We have tickets!!

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$130 gets you access to 3 days of awesome fun and music from nearly 70 talented artists! Proceeds from our ticket sales go to the AFA with a huge thanks to the Tall Tree Society for their support. Please send us an e-mail if you're interested in purchasing some and to arrange ticket pickup in Victoria!

PHOTO GALLERY: Olympic National Park Trip 2013

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We just got back from a trip to the astoundingly majestic and mossy temperate rainforests of the Olympic National Park in Washington state, where the Ancient Forest Alliance's photographer, TJ Watt, has taken hundreds of phenomenal photos!