From left to right: Jens Wieting (Sierra Club of BC); Andrea Inness (AFA); Dan Hager (Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce); Ken Wu (AFA); and Arnold Bercov (Public and Private Workers of Canada) by an old-growth redcedar tree in Stanley Park.

Ancient Forest Alliance Featured in Vancouver’s Chinese-Language Newspaper

The AFA was recently featured in an article in Sing Tao - Vancouver's Chinese-language newspaper - from our press conference Oct 10th with Jens Wieting of Sierra Club BC, Dan Hagar from the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, and Arnie Bercov from the Public and Private Workers of Canada forestry union.

Our organizations came together to shine a spotlight on BC's forestry industry during the 2017 Forest Stewardship Council General Assembly and the need for changes to protect old-growth forests and forestry jobs.

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Some AFA staff and allies in the Lower Avatar Grove. Pictured from left to right are: TJ Watt (AFA Photographer)

Ancient Forest Alliance Featured in Latest Edition of Your Magazine

The latest edition of Your Magazine features the Ancient Forest Alliance, with quite a bit of information on the organization's "modus operandi". See the article (pages 5-6) at: https://issuu.com/yourmagazinevictoria/docs/your-summer2017-web

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Ancient Forest Alliance

Shaw TV: Walbran Valley Update

Check out the latest Shaw TV news piece on the Walbran Valley, Castle Grove, and Eden Grove ancient forests near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island in Pacheedaht First Nation territory, and what a new provincial government could mean for BC's endangered old-growth forests! It features an interview with the Ancient Forest Alliance's executive director Ken Wu and video footage (including drone footage) and photos taken by the AFA's photographer and campaigner TJ Watt. Thanks to Lorraine Scollan and Heather Leary of Shaw TV for covering these local old-growth forest issues again!

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Ancient Forest Alliance

WATCH: Avatar Grove Boardwalk

Check out the major new Shaw TV piece, featuring the most extensive news coverage on Avatar Grove so far, about the completion of the boardwalk and its significance for Port Renfrew and ancient forest protection! Featuring the Ancient Forest Alliance's TJ Watt and Ken Wu, Dan Hager of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, Jon Cash of Soule Creek Lodge, Kristine Pearson and Pamela Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation band, Matthew Varley and Scott Harris super volunteers, and Alison Sturrock an international tourist who happened to be hiking there. Thanks to Shaw TV's Lorraine Scollan and Heather Leary for putting this piece together!

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Ancient Forest Alliance

Ancient forest hot spot: Port Renfrew’s Avatar Grove now accessible to public

"You're going to see some of the grandest forest left not only in Canada but on planet Earth. To have these 14-15 foot wide trees here is a very rare thing, these trees can be 1,000 years old," said Ken Wu, executive director of the Ancient Forest Alliance.

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Left to Right: Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) Boardwalk Coodinator TJ Watt

New pathway for ancient forest

“If you were to arrive at Avatar Grove, you’ll find a one-kilometre trail with hundreds of metres of high-quality boardwalk that takes you through one of the most spectacular ancient forests in the country,” said TJ Watt, Avatar Grove boardwalk co-ordinator with the Ancient Forest Alliance.
 
The boardwalk protects the tree roots and vegetation from excessive trampling and provides safe public access to the forest, he said. “It allows people to spend more time looking at the trees and less time looking at their feet.”
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Boardwalk in the Upper Avatar Grove

Avatar Grove Boardwalk Now Completed and Open

Now it's open the Ancient Forest Alliance's Ken Wu says it's been great for eco-tourism. "That is a message for other rural communities to stand up for the ancient forest in your area. Maybe take a page out of Costa Rica's book and  take a step towards a sustainable economy and instead log second growth forest sustainably instead of logging the last of our ancient forests as well."

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Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce President Dan Hager

Avatar Grove boardwalk finally complete

After four years of work, the boardwalk at Avatar Grove is officially finished and ready to be enjoyed by the public. On Thursday, the Ancient Forest Alliance held a grand opening ceremony in Port Renfrew in celebration of the effort put in to building the boardwalk. 

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AFA Boardwalk Co-odinator TJ Watt carries materials along the new trail.

Volunteer-built boardwalk showcases protected old-growth near Port Renfrew

"Hundreds of people have come out to help, to carry buckets of gravel up through the trail, to carry heavy boardwalk planks, hammering thousands of nails and swatting a million mosquitos," said T.J. Watt, boardwalk coordinator for the group.
 
Port Renfrew has long relied on forestry and commercial fishing as main industries. But outdoor recreation and eco-tourism are a growing part of the economy.
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Avatar Grove boardwalk construction to be finished this weekend

This weekend the boardwalk in the Avatar Grove will finally be finished construction after four years.

For the finishing touches, volunteers with the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) will be building a new platform, stairs, steps, and walkways, and install signage, on the major project.

“The Avatar Grove’s real significance is that it serves as an example to other communities that protecting old-growth forests benefits the economy by hugely bolstering local businesses and jobs,” said Ken Wu, executive director of the Ancient Forest Alliance.“In helping to revitalize Port Renfrew’s economy, it has clearly counteracted the old, false narrative that saving old-growth forests harms the local economy. The Avatar Grove and its boardwalk have been the most important catalyst for B.C.’s ancient forest movement in recent times and have helped to shape the fate of endangered forests across the province.”

See full article in the Sooke News Mirror: https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/news/avatar-grove-boardwalk-construction-to-be-finished-this-weekend/

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