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Sun shines through the moss and ferns in the unprotected FernGully Grove near Port Renfrew.
Dec 17 2017

Towering near-record Sitka spruce located near Port Renfrew

Check out this new article in CHEK News about FernGully Grove: Port Renfrew is billed as Canada’s Tall Tree Capital, and the latest find is helping to enforce the nickname. The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) says they located an 11-foot diameter Sitka spruce tree that is the tenth widest Sitka spruce in Canada, according to the BC Big Tree Registry. AFA says they found the massive tree in one of the last unprotected stands of old-growth Sitka spruce groves on Vancouver Island, nicknamed FernGully Grove, near Port Renfrew.

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From left: Ancient Forest Alliance volunteer Nathaniel Glickman
Dec 16 2017

Massive near-record Sitka spruce tree found on Vancouver Island

Here's a Vancouver Sun article about FernGully Grove - a spectacular grove of giant spruce that we located near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory last week - saying: A forest advocacy group says it has discovered an unprotected old-growth forest that is home to a near-record sized Sitka spruce tree on Vancouver Island. The Ancient Forest Alliance says the 3.3-metre wide tree was found on lands owned by TimberWest Corporation, near the town of Port Renfrew, also known as Canada’s tall tree capital. AFA executive director Ken Wu says the area, which they have nicknamed FernGully Grove, is also home to dozens of one to two metre wide trees, giant sword ferns, and is the habitat for elk, deer, wolves, cougars and black bears. He says the grove “needs to be bought and protected by the province.” 

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From left: Ancient Forest Alliance volunteer Nathaniel Glickman
Dec 15 2017

Magnificent Old-Growth Forest found on Vancouver Island; 11 foot wide, near-record size Sitka spruce towers in “FernGully Grove”

The Ancient Forest Alliance has located one of the finest and last unprotected stands of old-growth Sitka spruce groves on Vancouver Island, located near Port Renfrew. Nicknamed the “FernGully Grove” for its dense and extensive understory of ferns, it is located on lands owned by TimberWest corporation, in the territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation people, and is just a 10 minute drive from the town of Port Renfrew – a town that has been billed as the “Tall Tree Capital of Canada.”

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Speakers and Ralliers at Ancient Forest Event
Nov 29 2017

“Tall Trees Tourism Corridor” Chambers of Commerce join Conservationists, Forestry Workers and First Nations at Rally for Old-Growth Forest Protection and Sustainable Forestry Jobs

Representatives from the Port Renfrew, Sooke, and Westshore Chambers of Commerce, First Nations, local governments, and environmental groups spoke up at the Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria yesterday, calling on the new provincial government to enact policies to protect BC’s old-growth forests, ensure a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry, and support First Nations land use plans and sustainable economic development.

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Photo: Ancient Forest Giftpack (calendar
Nov 16 2017

New! 2018 Ancient Forest Calendars & Cards, Posters, Stickers, Certificates, and other Merchandise

Make the Ancient Forest Alliance your holiday-giving priority by picking up some of our beautiful AFA merchandise and/or donating to our historic campaign mobilization. We're proud to present our 2018 calendar and our other products such as cards, stickers, certificates, posters and gift packs which are available for purchase with proceeds going toward protecting BC's endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable second growth forest industry. • Order products online HERE • Donate HERE

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AFA's Campaigner and Photographer
Nov 10 2017

Conservationists thank the Pacheedaht First Nation for extending protection over 18 hectares of “Jurassic Grove” near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island

The Ancient Forest Alliance is thanking the Pacheedaht First Nation band for proposing expanded protection for an 18 hectare portion of the stunning “Jurassic Grove”, a monumental old-growth forest of giant redcedars, Douglas-fir, and Sitka spruce trees located a 90 minute drive west of Victoria between Jordan River and Port Renfrew. The proposed expansion in the new management plan of Tree Farm Licence 61, partly owned by the Pacheedaht band, would protect about 30% of the 61 hectares that are still unprotected in the Jurassic Grove (total grove size is 130 hectares). The spectacular grove stands on Crown lands adjacent to the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, in the unceded traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation. See the original media release about Jurassic Grove, identified earlier this year as an exceptional old-growth grove by the Ancient Forest Alliance at: https://ancientforestalliance.org/photos-media/jurassic-grove/ and a Times Colonist piece at: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/avatar-grove-the-sequel-introducing-jurassic-grove-1.18540489 

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Stage and crowd at the very start of the night. The crowd increased another 30% in size over the next half hour!
Nov 3 2017

Info Night and Rally on Tues, Nov. 28, at Alix Goolden Hall, from 7 – 8:30 pm

Time/Date: Tuesday Nov. 28, from 7 - 8:30 pm Location: Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora Ave) Free admission The election of a new NDP government supported by the Greens provides the greatest opportunity in BC's history to protect old-growth forests and end raw log exports. The AFA's Rally & Info Night for Ancient Forests and BC Forestry Jobs is our chance to let the BC government know we want protection for BC's endangered old-growth forests, support for First Nations land use plans, and a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry. Your participation makes all the difference and will send a strong signal to the government that we want bold action now! Key Speakers Include: Joe Martin, Tla-o-qui-aht canoe carver and Band Councillor Robert Morales, Chief Treaty Negotiator, Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group Dr. Andy Mackinnon, Metchosin city Councillor and forest ecologist Arnold Bercov, President of the Public and Private Workers of Canada Karl Ablack, Vice President, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce Josh Schmidt, Director of Development, West Shore Chamber of Commerce Jens Wieting, Forest and Climate Campaigner, Sierra Club BC Dr. Brian White, Tourism Professor and Program Head, Royal Roads University Torrance Coste, Campaigner, Wilderness Committee TJ Watt, Photographer & Campaigner, Ancient Forest Alliance Andrea Inness, Campaigner, Ancient Forest Alliance Ken Wu, Executive Director, Ancient Forest Alliance  This is our chance to send an unequivocal message to the BC government to protect ancient forests and forestry jobs! Please join us and spread the word - your attendance at this rally and info night is critical! For more information, contact us at info@ancientforestalliance.org, call 250.896.4007 or visit our Facebook event page.

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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.
Oct 26 2017

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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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.
Oct 10 2017

New BC government must reform forest policies, say environmentalists, businesses, and union

Today, conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance and Sierra Club of BC joined representatives from the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) forestry union and the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce at a press conference to shine a spotlight on needed government policies to protect BC’s old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry, during the 2017 Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) General Assembly in Vancouver.

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Ancient Forest Alliance
Sep 8 2017

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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