Logging company officials maintain harvesting increases in the Comox Lake watershed in recent decades had nothing to do with the extended boil water advisory in the Courtenay area. But as more severe storms wreck havoc on the ecosystem, which provides the drinking water for tens of thousands in the Comox Valley, a local conservation group says it's time to rethink forestry practices.
The Port Alberni Watershed Forest Alliance has been relentless in their campaign to save the old-growth forests around Port Alberni, at McLaughlin Ridge, the Cameron Valley Ancient Forest, Horne Mountain (above Cathedral Grove) and Katlum Creek. Led by Jane Morden and a great local team, they are real forest heroes in this province!
Here's a new Alberni Valley Times article about the old-growth forests at McLaughlin Ridge, which conservationists are pushing the BC government to protect: As logging continues in McLaughlin Ridge, the B.C. Teachers Federation voted to ask Island Timberlands to sell the forestry land it owns in the steeply sloped area. The motion passed Jan. 31 at a BCTF assembly of district representatives, urging the forestry company to sell McLaughlin Ridge to "an organization(s) that will conserve and preserve forest lands." The old growth forest is within the China Creek watershed, the drinking water source for more than 20,000 people in Port Alberni and Beaver Creek. Ken Zydyk, president of the Alberni Teachers Union, said the request for Island Timberlands to divest the land was first approved by public educators in Port Alberni. "There are many teachers concerned about the current practices of Island Timberlands," he said. "Teachers are uncomfortable that we put some of our salary towards our pension, it's like a savings account that we access later," Zydyk said, adding that the concern was if teachers' funds are "being used in a socially responsible way." The forestry company has met with municipal officials on almost a monthly basis since city council voted last August to join a lobbying effort to halt harvesting in McLaughlin Ridge. This push is being led by the Watershed Forest Alliance, a local environmental group that fears the forestry activity is unsustainable, harming McLaughlin Ridge's wildlife and compromising Port Alberni's source of drinking water.
Here's a new article in the Island Tides about the Central Walbran Valley's ancient forest being flagged for potential logging.
Mountain Life Magazine has just done a little piece on the Ancient Forest Alliance and filmmaker Darryl Augustine (of Roadside Films - see https://www.facebook.com/roadsidefilmsbc) about his experience working on a film about us. You can see Darryl's great new film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg9dcc2WPjk
Here is the obituary of Dr. Al Carder, who passed away at 104 years in age recently. Dr. Carder leaves an impressive scientific and conservation legacy, having spent decades researching and promoting the conservation of BC's biggest old-growth trees years before the rise of the modern ancient forest movement. Dr. Carder recently received the Forest Sustainability Award from the Ancient Forest Alliance
“The time to act is now” was the message delivered by outgoing Shawnigan Lake director Bruce Fraser on protecting the Alberni Valley’s watershed. Bruce delivered that message to a packed Search and Rescue Hall that included local residents, Island Timberlands representatives and city officials during a watershed forum organized by the Watershed-Forest Alliance and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser.
"The 104-year-old Carder is considered the oldest forest conservationist in the province. His relationship with giant trees began in 1917, when he was seven and he helped his father measure a tall tree near their home in the lower Fraser Valley... Along with his books, Carder is perhaps best known for his work to highlight the Red Creek Fir, the world’s largest known Douglas-fir tree, located in the San Juan Valley near Port Renfrew. Since then, the town has become known as the Tall Trees Capital of Canada, with tourists from around the world coming to visit the Red Creek Fir, nearby Avatar Grove and the Walbran and Carmanah valleys."
Earlier this week, B.C.'s oldest forest conservationist, 104-year-old Dr. Al Carder -- who is older than most of B.C.'s second-growth trees -- received the 2015 Forest Sustainability Award from the Ancient Forest Alliance. The award honours his decades of service to document, research, and promote the conservation of B.C.'s old-growth trees.
"B.C.’s oldest tree hugger has been publicly recognized for decades of work protecting the province’s old-growth trees. Dr. Al Carder, 104, received the Forest Sustainablity Award from the Ancient Forest Alliance on Tuesday for his work documenting, researching and promoting some of Canada’s most magnificent trees."
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