Ancient Forest Alliance Reaches Global Audiences in Al Jazeera News

Check it out! We're starting to reach global audiences, as Al Jazeera news (sort of like the BBC of the Middle East) has put out a new photo essay and article about the Ancient Forest Alliance's campaign to protect BC's old-growth forests from industrial logging. It includes photos of the Ancient Forest Alliance staff (Ken Wu, Andrea Inness, TJ Watt, Molly O'Ray) by the protected Avatar Grove, the endangered Eden Grove and Echo Lake, clearcutting on Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew, forest ecologist Dr. Andy MacKinnon, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce president Dan Hager, Cathedral Grove, and the Catalyst mill in Port Alberni. Article and photos by John Zada.    See: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2017/04/fighting-save-canada-giant-trees-170429152837200.html

One of several monumental western redcedars located in Jurassic Grove.

Avatar Grove, the sequel: Introducing Jurassic Grove

Check out the latest Times Colonist article about an unprotected ancient forest we've nicknamed "Jurassic Grove" (which one day might become "Jurassic Park" if it is protected)! The area includes some of the finest old-growth redcedar stands anywhere. While most of its 130 hectares is protected by a Marbled Murrelet Wildlife Habitat Area, there is a 40 hectare unprotected section as well, and it all lies adjacent to the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Provincial Park in Pacheedaht territory on Crown lands between Jordan River and Port Renfrew. The article includes interviews with the AFA's Ken Wu and TJ Watt, the Soule Creek Lodge Owner Jon Cash, and veteran BC forest activist Vicky Husband.  See the article from the Times Colonist: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/avatar-grove-the-sequel-introducing-jurassic-grove-1.18540489

One of several monumental western redcedars located in Jurassic Grove.

CHEK TV News on the Jurassic Grove

Watch this CHEK News report on Jurassic Grove, an impressive grove of unprotected, monumental old-growth trees only a 90 minute drive west of Victoria between Jordan River and Port Renfrew. The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling attention to the area's high conservation and recreation value and hopes it will be protected.  Click here for the CHEK News report: https://www.cheknews.ca/newly-discovered-old-growth-forest-vancouver-island-312417/

Avatar Grove's Old-Growth Trees

Land of the giants: A wet and wild trip to Port Renfrew

Check out this major travel feature in the Times Colonist newspaper about visiting Avatar Grove! The article highlights how the Ancient Forest Alliance's campaign to protect old-growth forests has become a major economic driver for Port Renfrew, which has now billed itself as the Tall Trees Capital of Canada! See the article from the Times Colonist: https://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/land-of-the-giants-a-wet-and-wild-trip-to-port-renfrew-1.16451897

Aerial photo of East Creek logging in 2015

East Creek Investigation Finds Clearcutting Rare Intact Old-Growth on Vancouver Island in Compliance with Laws, Highlighting BC Government Failure to Protect Endangered Rainforest

Here's a media release from our allies at Sierra Club BC about the brutal fragmentation of the East Creek Valley on far northwestern Vancouver Island on the north side of the Brooks Peninsula in Kwakwaka'wakw Quatsino territory. East Creek was one of the very last intact primary watersheds on Vancouver Island until the BC Liberal government allowed the industrial logging of the upper valley starting in 2002 and then the lower valley in 2015 and on. The valley is home to major runs of spawning salmon, as well as bears, wolves, cougars, elk, deer, and species at risk like the marbled murrelet and northern goshawk. The valley is tattered now like most ancient forests across Vancouver Island but there are still significant tracts of ancient forest there that require protection - and the BC Liberals and NDP both need to be pressured to do so.  See the media release at: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/east-creek-investigation-highlighting-bc-government-failure-to-protect-endangered-rainforest/

A ship loaded with raw logs headed for Japan sits docked in Port Alberni on Feb 24

New report says raw logs exports at record levels

CHEK TV news piece - Raw log exports reach record levels (includes video footage by the Ancient Forest Alliance's TJ Watt)

Old Growth Forests – Logging Versus Tourism on Vancouver Island

Here is an article in Municipal World magazine detailing the expansion of mainstream support in BC to end the logging of endangered old-growth forests. 

A ship loaded with raw logs sits docked in Port Alberni on Feb 24

Comment: Rising raw log exports bad for forests, workers

Here's a new Op-ed piece by Ben Parfit (CCPA), Scott Doherty (Unifor), and the Ancient Forest Alliance's Ken Wu about the record levels of raw log exports leaving BC over the past 4 years, with one-third coming from old-growth forests and over half coming from Crown lands over the past 5 years. The forestry unions PPWC and Unifor and conservation groups are calling for an immediate ban on old-growth log exports, progressively higher taxes on second-growth log exports to support domestic mills, and policies to support sustainable, value-added forestry in rural and First Nations communities. 

Ahousaht First Nation applauded for logging ban

Here's a video and article in CHEK News about the Ahousaht First Nation's recent announcement of their land use plan vision in their territory.

‘No’ to industrial mining and logging, say Ahousaht Ha’wiih

Here is a key article about the recent Ahousaht land use plan vision in the Nuu-cha-nulth newspaper "Ha-shilth-sa"!