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Tall trees turning Port Renfrew into tourist hot spot

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The discovery of a grove of massive and unusual cedar trees six years ago has slowly been attracting more and more tourists from around the world to the tiny community of Port Renfrew.

And now the business community says it’s better for the local economy to move on from logging, and set its sights instead on ecotourism.

Port Renfrew is a two hour drive from Victoria, along Vancouver Island’s west coast.

“To be able to drive somewhere, and to be able to immerse themselves in an environment that looks the same, is the same, the way it was perhaps 1000 years ago, is a wonderful experience,” said Dan Hager, President of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce.

A short drive from the centre of Port Renfrew brings you to Avatar Grove.

TJ Watt discovered the unusual and massive cedars while exploring the area with a friend in 2009.

“We found these incredible gigantic trees that are covered in these amazing burls,” said Watts.

Watt’s group the Ancient Forest Alliance along with the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce campaigned to have the area saved and in 2012 the provincial government declared Avatar Grove a protected area and word of it’s unique beauty started to spread.

“Avatar started to bring a lot of people, and they started coming and every year they came more and more and more,” said Hager.

In the peak of summer, it’s estimated up to 200 people will visit the “gnarly” trees each day, many from Europe, and the United States.

“There’s been a massive influx of tall tree tourism and the town has re-branded itself as the Tall Tree Capital of Canada,” said Ken Wu with the Ancient Forest Alliance.

But the Tall Tree Capital was actually built on falling trees and signs of the forest industry dot the hills all around.

“Logging really has the origins of Port Renfrew, the reason the road is there because of logging, but we can bring more people and more revenue into Renfrew through tourism than from logging, taking the trees out,” said Hager.

Hager says you can see the impact ecotourism is having on the tiny community of 250 as developers build cabins and cottages for people from around the world who want a closer view of Vancouver Island’s raw beauty.

One of the most iconic tall trees in the Port Renfrew area is affectionately known as “Big Lonely Doug”.

The second largest douglas fir in Canada, it is nearly four meters wide and 67 meters tall, and estimated to be roughly 1000 years old.

It was saved as a wildlife tree when the area was logged a few years ago.

And it is just one more reason local business and environmental groups say the remaining ancient forests in the region need to be protected.

“Giant douglas firs, big red cedars, these are primeval forests, sort of Jurassic Park type landscapes that really deserve protection there’s so little left,” said Wu.

But for many in the area the tall trees remaining are a sign of transformation, for a town ready to cut ties with its logging roots and plant a new seed for a future in tourism.

THANK YOU to our 2015 Business, Artist & Organization Supporters!

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Thanks to the generous support of donors, the Ancient Forest Alliance has quickly grown to become BC’s leading organization working for comprehensive legislation to protect endangered old-growth forests and forestry jobs across the province.

In the past several years since the AFA was founded, local and sustainable businesses along with artists and other organizations have bolstered the AFA’s important work through many fundraising initiatives including direct donations, yoga studio Karma Classes, gift raffles, ‘Haircut not Clearcut’ salon fundraisers, in kind donations, proceeds from products or services to music festivals, concerts and special event benefits.

We look forward to working with many more such supporters in 2016 and beyond as we pursue our ambitious goal of ensuring legislated protection for endangered old-growth forests across the province!

For more information on supporting the AFA as a business or organization, visit our Business and Organization Support page.

For a FULL LIST of ALL businesses, artists and organizations that have supported the AFA since our founding in 2010, see here.
Thanks to our 2015 Donors!

In 2015, the AFA received significant support from a variety of granting programs and creative fundraisers. We are very grateful for the major support provided by Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Community Contributions Grants and MEC Victoria’s vote of preferred organizations, LUSH Handmade Cosmetics’ Charity Pot program, Patagonia‘s Grassroots Environmental Grants program, and Patagonia Victoria – Elements’ 1% for the Planet contributions.

We would like to also extend our deepest gratitude to Nick Temos of the Pacific Northwest Collective for piloting four incredible aerial flights over Vancouver Island this year that helped us document remote ancient forests and old-growth logging from above.

We are very excited to be a new beneficiary of True North Goods, an outdoor goods and apparel company showing their dedication to protecting the outdoors for future generations to explore by donating a portion of all proceeds to the AFA! Michael Green Architecture has also supported us greatly as part of its 1% for the Planet contributions.

Eternal Abundance Organic Vegan Grocery & Cafe and Banyen Books & Sound in Vancouver as well as MEC Victoria are all generously hosting ongoing sales of AFA merchandise in their stores.

Early in 2015, Innerlife Health Services supported the AFA through their Community Clinic offering BodyTalk sessions, and Climbing Arborist and the Mat Fernandez Project along with Roadside Films organized a fundraising film screening. Hemp & Company, in addition to continued support through the printing of AFA shirts and other clothing items, and through merchandise sales at their store, also awarded the AFA’s TJ Watt with an Eco-Hero Award!
Many supporters contributed to the AFA’s 5 Year Anniversary Sustainable Dinner & Celebration in April. Generous contributors included chef Landon Crawford and his team, including front house coordinator Gaby Bolanos, with music by acclaimed Vancouver Island singer-songwriter Shauna Janz, event sponsors Patagonia Victoria, Megson Fitzpatrick Insurance Services, Truffles Catering, Pedersen’s Rentals and Hemp & Company, food and drink donations from Hope Hill Farm, Michell’s Farm, Sun Trio Farm, Hoyne Brewing, Sea Cider, Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery, and a wide selection of door prizes from Hemp & Company, Sitka, Sol Integrative Healing, Harmony Belly Dance, Lifestyles Markets, Moksha Yoga Westshore, Patagonia Vancouver, SeaFlora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare, Harmony Herbal Teas, Cafe 932, Nezza Naturals, Kermode Wildberry Winery, Pathfinders Design & Technology, Quoia, Bahnmann Timber, Evan Patterson Contracting, Platinum Energy Systems, Inspire Hair Design, West Coast Greens, Andy Mackinnon, Robin Esrock/Canadian Bucket List, and Al Carder.

This summer, Tall Tree Music Festival once again came to Brown Mountain near Port Renfrew and lent its support to the AFA’s work to protect old-growth forests near Port Renfrew and beyond.

This holiday season, Heartwood Community Café, Patagonia Vancouver, MEC Victoria and Hudson Public Market generously offered space in their stores for the AFA’s holiday fundraising booths.  Cordial Wildcrafted Consumables, Bon Macaron Patisserie and Gather Victoria donated food and gift basket items to our year end events, and Patagonia Vancouver generously hosted a film screening and presentation fundraiser!

Thank you all!

Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce Calls for the Protection of the Central Walbran Valley’s Old-Growth Forest

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Port Renfrew, BC – Conservationists are delighted that the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, representing 73 businesses in the region, has issued a statement to the provincial government requesting that it protect the Central Walbran Valley from old-growth logging. Port Renfrew, formerly a logging town, has been transformed in recent years into a big tree tourism destination as hundreds of thousands of tourists have come from around the world in recent years to visit some of Canada’s largest trees in the nearby Avatar Grove, the Red Creek Fir (the world’s largest Douglas-fir tree), Big Lonely Doug (Canada’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir tree), San Juan Spruce (until recently Canada’s largest Sitka spruce tree – its top broke off in a recent storm unfortunately), the Harris Creek spruce (one of the largest Sitka spruce trees in Canada), and the Central Walbran Valley.

• See the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce's statement for the Walbran here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qjstakjrvbf8jsh/PRChamberToProtectWalbran.pdf?dl=0
• See spectacular photos of the Walbran at: www.ancientforestalliance.org/photos.php?gID=7
• See a recent Youtube clip using drone footage over the Central Walbran at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyMPXHOjlK0
• See 2012 video (when a similar attempt to log by the Castle Grove was held off…only to return) at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHnG_sC4oms

“The publicity about the old-growth forests near Port Renfrew in recent years has brought in a flood of visitors from Europe, the USA, Canada, and diverse countries to visit Port Renfrew. This has especially been true since the protection of the Avatar Grove in 2012. Big tree tourism has increased the total flow of dollars spent in Port Renfrew, in our rental accommodations, restaurants, grocery stores, and businesses in general. Along with sport fishing, old-growth forest tourism has become a staple of our local economy,” states Dan Hager, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce. “Recently, increasing numbers of visitors are heading through town to visit the Central Walbran Valley to see its old-growth forest. If the Central Walbran were to be protected, it would be a great addition to our town’s repertoire of big tree attractions.”

The Central Walbran Valley’s 500 hectare tract of lush old-growth temperate rainforest has long been an area of public interest since hiking trails were built in the valley in 1990. In 1994, the BC government protected the Lower Walbran Valley, about 5500 hectares, as part of the larger Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park, but left out the Central Walbran Valley (500 hectares) and the Upper Walbran Valley (7,000 hectares) from the park. Since then, most of the Upper Walbran has been heavily tattered by logging, but the Central Walbran remains largely intact. However, Teal-Jones is planning eight new cutblocks in the Central Walbran, of which one (cutblock 4424) has been approved by the province. The Central Walbran Valley lies on Crown (public) land in the territory of the Pacheedaht band in Tree Farm Licence 46 held by Teal-Jones.

“The Central Walbran Valley is truly exceptional in so many ways. It has the most extensive, densely-packed groves of old-growth western redcedars in the country – including some of the very largest on record, such as the Tolkien and Castle Giants,” stated TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance photographer and campaigner. “I've personally brought tourists to see the rainforests of Central Walbran Valley who had flown all the way from Europe to see these specific ancient trees. It’s truly one of the grandest old-growth forests on planet Earth and it's time for it to be fully protected.”

“The Central Walbran is seriously one of the most scenic and spectacular places anybody could visit. With its gargantuan trees, emerald-coloured swimming holes, amazing waterfalls, and perfect camping areas, in all of my experiences the Walbran is virtually unmatched for recreational and scenic grandeur in the world. It’s just the perfect place to visit, and to riddle the whole area with clearcuts and giant stumps would be the lowest, worse use of a place like this,” states Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance executive director.

Ancient Forest Alliance campaigners recently located and measured two huge western redcedar trees, one of which makes it into the top 10 widest redcedars in BC according to the BC Big Tree Registry, in the Central Walbran Valley – the 4.6 metre (15 feet) wide “Tolkien Giant” and the “Karst Giant”. See: www.ancientforestalliance.org/news-item.php?ID=944

About 75% of the original productive old-growth forests have been logged on southern Vancouver Island, including over 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow, while about 8% is protected in parks and Old-Growth Management Areas. See maps and stats at: www.ancientforestalliance.org/old-growth-maps.php

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC government to protect our endangered old-growth forests, ensure the sustainable logging of second-growth forests, end the export of raw logs, and assist in the retooling and development of sawmills and value-added facilities to handle second-growth logs.
 

Port Renfrew businesses call on B.C. to halt logging of ancient trees

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PORT RENFREW, B.C. – Business leaders in Port Renfrew, B.C., a community that once thrived on forestry, are calling for a ban on logging in the nearby Walbran Valley.

The valley is full of ancient old-growth trees, and the Chamber of Commerce says tourists who come to see them have created a multibillion-dollar economy along Vancouver Island’s west coast.

Some of the old trees are protected within the boundary of the Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park, but chamber president Dan Hager says logging is currently underway in the rest of the valley.

The chamber, which represents 73 local businesses, has released a statement calling on the B.C. government to immediately ban logging in the unprotected portion of the valley.

It says the most heavily visited areas of the Walbran are outside the park’s protected areas.

The group Ancient Forest Alliance has lobbied heavily for the Walbran’s protection and says a logging company is planning eight new cutblocks in the valley, including one that has been approved by the province.

Read more: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/port-renfrew-businesses-call-on-b-c-to-halt-logging-of-ancient-trees-1.2699753

Vancouver Island’s Ancient Trees

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Here's an article in the latest British Columbia Magazine about visiting the old-growth forests of the Port Renfrew region along the “Circle Route”! It also raises the plight of the old-growth forests in the Walbran Valley, Horne Mountain (above Cathedral Grove), and Mossy Maple Grove, and includes a blurb about the Ancient Forest Alliance.  See image to view the article, or pick up a hardcopy of the latest issue!

Recent boardwalk additions in the lower grove which span the area prone to Winter flooding.

Photo Gallery of Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction! October 2015

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Photo Gallery: https://on.fb.me/1LCZVtCA

A big show of gratitude and thanks to the over 20 volunteers who came out to build boardwalk at Avatar Grove last weekend and to the many of you who have donated towards this project so far! We made significant progress in the lower grove, constructing close to 80ft (25 m) of new boardwalk and bridges over the area prone to flooding. These vital improvements come just in time before the heavy winter rains begin. Volunteers also worked to add traction to many metres of boardwalk, restore parts of the trail which were showing signs of wear, and helped make the route more clear to follow. There’s still a few key sets of stairs and bridges to get built but we’re making great headway on what has become one of the island’s most popular hiking trails! Thanks to Matt, Ron, Vincent, Nickey, Jessica, Nimai, Eagle, Will, Marc, Heath, Kristin, Chris, Jeremy, Shannon, Pearson College students Navo, Kevin, Will, Lauren, Michael, Matilde, Connor, and AFA boardwalk coordinator TJ Watt.

Boardwalk in the Upper Avatar Grove

New Photo Gallery and Time-Lapse of Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction!

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Over the September long weekend, AFA’s TJ Watt and a small group of dedicated volunteers worked hard to construct a crucial new section of the boardwalk at Avatar Grove.

Photos:  https://on.fb.me/1UA4yMo
Time-lapse video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez0xdSy2xEE

In the Upper Grove, the steep slope leading down to the creek had become quite rough and slippery, so to help protect the tree roots and make it safer for everyone visiting, the group built two new platforms and sets of stairs leading down the hill. It was challenging work to say the least and lasted until nearly dark each day! The only thing left to do in that section now is add a railing on the bottom deck and stairs. 

The team also installed a beautiful bench near the Gnarly Tree so that visitors can take a break and enjoy the view at the top of the trail.

A huge thanks goes out to volunteers Scott and Nitya, Matthew and Tyrell, Max, and Sean for their long hours and excellent help. A thanks goes out as well to Slegg Lumber for providing a discount on our building supplies and to Port Renfrew Marina for hosting our camp and materials.

There’s still more work to be done though in a few sections of the trail at Avatar Grove this year – to donate towards the project ($100 sponsors 1 metre of boardwalk) please visit this link: https://ancientforestalliance.org/avatar-grove-boardwalk-now-completed-and-open/ We’re very grateful for those of you who already have donated!!

Also, if you have some basic carpentry skills (the more the better!) and would like to volunteer in the future, please email TJ at info@ancientforestalliance.org. We hope you enjoy the latest upgrades!

THANK YOU to Our 5 Year Anniversary Supporters!

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Thank you to all who donated towards the AFA’s 5 Year Anniversary Celebration & Dinner as well as our 5th Anniversary Earth Day fundraising goals! We greatly appreciate the guests, volunteers, businesses, organizations, artists and others whose generous contributions made the evening an occasion to remember, as well as the many others who weren’t able to make it but have contributed during this pivotal time.

With your dedicated support, we will continue to broaden our movement, complete the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, protect specific endangered ancient forests, and work towards ensuring comprehensive, science-based legislation to protect endangered old-growth forests across BC.

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5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION, ARTIST & EVENT CONTRIBUTORS

Chefs and Front House Coordinator

A huge thanks to chef Landon Crawford, as well as his team Tom and Dion and front house coordinator Gaby Bolanos for preparing and coordinating the serving of the incredible 3-course sustainable meal for the evening.

Music

We are extremely grateful for the live music provided by acclaimed Vancouver Island singer-songwriter Shauna Janz, whose song Redwood was nominated for “Song of the Year” at the 2015 Vancouver Island Music Awards. Shauna generously donated her time to be with us for the evening.

Speakers

Thank you to our dedicated, knowledgeable and inspirational speakers – Andy Mackinnon (forest ecologist and best-selling co-author of the Plants of Coastal BC), Vicky Husband (conservationist and Order of Canada recipient), and Arnie Bercov (president of the Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada union).

Business Sponsors

Thanks to our business sponsors who contributed to cover various costs of the event – Patagonia Victoria for general event costs, Megson Fitzpatrick Insurance Services (www.megsonfitzpatrick.com) for insurance costs, Truffles Catering (www.trufflescatering.net) for kitchen use, and Pedersen’s Rentals (pedersens.ca) for a covering a portion of our rental equipment for the evening.  Thanks as well to Hemp and Co. (www.hempandcompany.com) for their continued support through the printing of AFA T-shirts and other clothing items, and through merchandise sales at their store.

Food & Drink

Donating food and drink to the evening’s incredible dinner and bar menu were Hope Hill Farm (www.notafactory.com) on Salt Spring Island, Michell’s Farm (www.michellsfarm.com) in Saanichton, Sun Trio Farm (www.suntriofarm.com) in Central Saanich, as well as Hoyne Brewing (hoynebrewing.ca), Sea Cider (seacider.ca), and Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery (tugwellcreekfarm.com).

Door Prizes

Many local businesses, organizations and artists/authors donated to the night’s array of door prizes.  Prizes included gift certificates by Patagonia Victoria, Sitka (sitka.ca), Sol Integrative Healing (www.solhealing.ca), Harmony Belly Dance (www.harmonybellydance.com) and Lifestyle Markets (lifestylemarkets.com); a 30-day unlimited yoga pass by Moksha Yoga Westshore (mokshayogawestshore.com); merchandise by Patagonia Vancouver; gift sets by SeaFlora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare (www.sea-flora.com), Harmony Herbal Teas (harmonyherbals.net), Café 932 and Nezza Naturals (www.nezzanaturals.com); wine from Kermode Wild Berry Winery (www.kermodewildberry.com); a wooden science kit by Pathfinders Design & Technology (www.pathfindersdesignandtechnology.com); copies of the CD Wildside by Quoia (quoia.bandcamp.com); a cutting board of salvaged Pacific Yew from Bahnmann Timber (bahnmanntimber.ca); a set of wooden coasters by Evan Patterson Contracting, Detox Spa sessions from Platinum Energy Systems (www.platinumenergysystems.ca); a gift certificate and hair products from Inspire Hair Design (inspirehairdesign.ca); ‘Who We Are: Reflections on My Life and Canada’ by Elizabeth May from the West Coast Greens (www.greenparty.ca), ‘The Great Western Canada Bucket List by author Robin Esrock (www.canadianbucketlist.com), books by Al Carder, and ‘Alpine Plants of British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest North America’ from co-author Andy Mackinnon.

2014 Avatar Grove Boardwalk Progress and Photo Galleries

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The Ancient Forest Alliance has nearly completed the preliminary phase of boardwalk construction at the Avatar Grove in essential areas such as the steep and slippery slopes, the roots around the biggest trees, and over creeks and other obstacles. More upgrades can still be done in the future but the toughest parts are almost compete. A big thanks goes out to our volunteers and donors! Fundraising for the boardwalk project will continue as we still have more work to complete in the new year.
 
To donate towards the boardwalk please visit: https://ancientforestalliance.org/avatar-grove-boardwalk-now-completed-and-open/ $100 helps to build 1 metre of boardwalk and you’ll receive a thank-you certificate with your name on it!
 
 
Volunteers this summer worked tirelessly to complete many things including two sets of much-needed steps up the slope towards the Gnarly Tree; many gravel steps leading into the Lower Grove; a bidge over the creek in the Upper Grove; various platforms and steps over obstacles in the Lower Grove; adding metal traction to the boardwalk surface; blocking off old trails and edging the path with logs; and more!! All of this work will help to protect the forest's delicate understory from excessive trampling, improve visitor access and safety, and help support the local economy of Port Renfrew and the Pacheedaht First Nation Band through eco-tourism.
 
A big thanks goes out to all the volunteers who have helped out so far; to the generous donors who have supported the boardwalk project; to Slegg Lumber for providing a discounted rate on many tools and supplies; and to the Port Renfrew Marina for allowing us use of their facilities. 
 
If you would like to help out with future boardwalk events, please send an email with your availability, any related experience or special skills, and physical limitations we should be aware of, to Avatar Boardwalk coordinator TJ Watt at: info@ancientforestalliance.org Volunteers must be able to follow instructions accurately, be in good physical condition to do the work, and act safely, responsibly and respectfully without exception.

Mossy maple grove

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When most of us think of British Columbia’s old-growth forest we imagine towering ancient cedars, spruces, and firs. But along a salmon-bearing creek southwest of Vancouver Island’s Lake Cowichan there’s an enchanting rainforest of an entirely different sort—featuring centuries-old deciduous bigleaf maples. Ken Wu, executive director of the Ancient Forest Alliance, came across the rare grove, which extends in a corridor at least four kilometres long, on a scouting mission two years ago and is advocating for its protection. This is Canada’s mossiest rainforest, he says. The trees are enveloped by hanging gardens of mosses, ferns, and lichens that thrive on the calcium-rich bark of the trees. The maples are an estimated 300 years old and are “exceptionally large,” with diameters up to two metres. “This is the most photogenic ecosystem in the entire country,” says Wu. “I’ve been through so many types of forest and landscapes and this one takes the cake. Hollywood couldn’t have created a more rainforesty rainforest.” Bigleaf maples are native to southwestern B.C. but old-growth stands are scarce—the aged wood of the species has high commercial value and is sometimes targeted by wood poachers. Wu suspects that these particular trees—a few dozen giants mixed with some second growth and other species—have been spared because they have hollowed out with age. The Mossy Maple Grove (also nicknamed Fangorn Forest after J.R.R Tolkien’s forest of animated tree-like beings) is primarily on Crown land. AFA runs occasional public hikes there but discourages independent visitation to avoid damaging the delicate understory and spooking the elk that rely on this riparian area. (The grove is also frequented by deer, cougars, black bears, and sometimes wolves.) 

Info: Visit the Ancient Forest Alliance website for scheduled hikes (ancientforestalliance.org). Watch a video on the Mossy Maple Grove (youtube.com/watch?v=FzOefJnAENI). 

Read more: https://bcmag.ca/explore-more/mossy-maple-grove