The fight to protect what’s left of old-growth forests

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Let’s forget about the end of oil for a moment and worry about something more immediate: the end of old-growth forests.

British Columbia is the last place in Canada where you can still find ancient, monumental trees standing outside parks. We are not talking here just about big, old trees, but about trees 250 to 1,000 years old, that tower 70 metres in height. If one grew on the steps of Parliament, its tip would block out the clock face on the Peace Tower. And set down in Vancouver, they would be as tall as many office towers.

Surprisingly, it is still legal in B.C. to cut down trees like that. And so many of these giants have been cut over the past 20 years, says Ken Wu of the Ancient Forest Alliance, that the end of old growth is near.

“We’ve just about hit it already in the coastal Douglas-fir zone,” he said. “On eastern Vancouver Island, we’ve got 1 per cent of old growth left. On the south Island, south of Alberni, we’ve got about 10 per cent left.”

Three years ago, Mr. Wu founded the Ancient Forest Alliance, a small group dedicated to just one task – saving old trees. Since then, he and his colleagues have spent a lot of time tramping around coastal forests, mapping groves of giant trees – and pleading with the government to protect them.

They have successfully saved some patches of forest, such as the now-famous Avatar Grove, which has become a tourist attraction near Port Renfrew. But Mr. Wu has lost a lot of fights, too, returning to find stumps where there had been a majestic cathedral of trees.

“The place that stands out for me is in the Walbran Valley [on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.] … It really is a Jurassic Park landscape. You’d think there would be Brontosauruses walking through there, with enormous trees, hanging mosses and ferns everywhere. … But in the last few years, we’ve seen the area logged. It looks like Swiss cheese now. Huge stumps as large as my living room where there used to be trees as tall as a downtown skyscraper.”

Mr. Wu doesn’t mince words when asked what he thinks of scenes like that.

“So when you are getting down to the last of an ecosystem and the government is not doing anything to stop that, not only is that criminal negligence, it’s being an accomplice to the crime,” he said.

Of course, it is perfectly legal in B.C. to take a chain saw and cut down a tree that is 200, 400 or even 1,000 years old. Loggers don’t have to get special permits just because a tree is exceptionally old, or remarkably big. If it is in an authorized cut block, it can be logged – and for a long time, it seemed only Mr. Wu and a handful of other environmentalists have heard those giants fall.

But slowly a public distracted by debates over tanker traffic, oil pipelines and coal ports, is turning its interest back to the fate of B.C.’s iconic old-growth forests.

When the Ancient Forest Alliance started a petition recently calling for the protection of B.C.’s endangered old growth, 22,000 people signed up. Another 1,800 confirmed on the group’s website and Facebook page that they would attend a protest rally at the legislature.

Mr. Wu is hopeful that this growing public awareness will encourage the government to make policy changes. “The main goal is to get a provincial old-growth strategy in place that would inventory old growth and protect it in regions where it is scarce,” he said. “At the same time, we recognize that there’s a lot of people working in the forest industry.” Mr. Wu believes B.C. could get more value out of logging second-growth timber. He also thinks the province should stop exporting whole logs.

He feels confident government can be persuaded to act before the last old growth is logged.

But on Sonora Island, near Campbell River, a group of residents went for a walk in the woods recently and this is what they found – towering, 600-year-old trees marked to be cut.

If that logging goes ahead, B.C. will have lost another piece of the 1 per cent of old growth that remains in the area. That puts us pretty close to the end of the game.

Link to online article: www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/the-fight-to-protect-whats-left-of-old-growth-forests/article9868144/

Global TV News – Protesters Want Government to Protect Old-Growth Forests

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About 500 people protested in front of the BC Legislature on Saturday afternoon to bring awareness to the loss of B.C. endangered old-growth forests.

Organized by the Ancient Forest Alliance, the group wants the BC Liberal government and the NDP to commit to an plan that will protect B.C.’s old-growth forests, and ensure sustainable, second-growth forestry jobs.

More than 3,700 people have sent messages so far to the BC Liberal government and NDP Opposition to protect old-growth forests and ensure sustainable second-growth forestry through the organization’s website: www.BCForestMovement.com

“With an election coming up, now is the time for BC’s politicians to commit to protecting our endangered old-growth forests, to ensure sustainable second-growth forestry, to end the export of raw logs to foreign mills, and to implement First Nations land use plans,” said Ken Wu, the AFA’s executive director.

“The status quo of liquidating the biggest, best old-growth stands and exporting massive amounts of raw logs abroad is destroying ecosystems, jobs, and communities. Now, of all times, BC’s politicians must develop some wisdom, foresight, and a backbone for a sustainable forestry overhaul in this province. No politician or party will escape scrutiny on their forestry agenda this electoral season, we’ll see to that.”

On Vancouver Island, 75% per cent of its original ancient forests have already been logged, including 90 per cent of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow. The AFA said B.C.’s old-growth forests are vital to support endangered species, tourism, the climate, clean water, wild salmon, and many First Nations cultures.

Watch the original story on our YouTube channel here.

The UVic AFA’s 3rd Annual Tree Huggers Ball Dance Party Extravaganza Fundraiser this SATURDAY March 23rd!

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The UVic Ancient Forest Committee will be hosting their 3rd Annual Tree Huggers Ball this coming Saturday March 23rd from 7:30 pm to 1:00 am at Felicita’s Pub, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC. There will be a full night of bands and Djs and lots of awesome prizes, all for a great cause. All of the proceeds from this event will go directly to the Ancient Forest Alliance to assist in their fight to protect BC’s remaining old-growth forests. Please bring your friends and family as this promises to be a night to remember. Tickets will be $10 and will be available at the door and prior as announced!

Check out the facebook page for this event: https://www.facebook.com/events/140870222749121/

Here’s the music line up for the evening:

Warm Up Jam BROI (Bring Your Own Instrument)
Reveal your secret talents, any acoustic instrument you can find, bring.

Moonshine Gang Victoria Chapter
Cortesian Folk Rock

As The Crow Flies.
Psychedelic indie-folk country-rock

Redwood Green
Acoustic Rock Ska

Co-Captain (aka Dylan Gale)
Happy Go Lucky Electronic Beats

Rough Child (aka Alistar Stewart)
Move your Feet Dub-step 

Rally for Ancient Forests and BC Jobs at the Victoria Legislature March 16

Diverse Crowd of 500 Environmentalists, First Nations, Forestry Workers and Business Owners call for Political Leadership to Protect Old-Growth Forests and Ensure Sustainable Forestry Jobs

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For Immediate Release
March 16, 2013

About 500 people in a diverse crowd of conservationists, forestry workers, First Nations, business owners, and union members showed up today in the heavy rain in Victoria for a rally organized by the Ancient Forest Alliance. Despite the morning downpour, spirits were high, and the clouds parted as the protesters marched their way towards the BC Legislative buildings from Centennial Square.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC Liberal government and the NDP opposition commit to a Provincial Old-Growth Plan that will protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and ensure sustainable, value-added second-growth forestry jobs – and finally bring an end to BC’s “War in the Woods”.

Over 3700 people have sent messages so far to the BC Liberal government and NDP Opposition to protect old-growth forests and ensure sustainable second-growth forestry through the organization’s website: www.BCForestMovement.com

“With an election coming up, now is the time for BC’s politicians to commit to protecting our endangered old-growth forests, to ensure sustainable second-growth forestry, to end the export of raw logs to foreign mills, and to implement First Nations land use plans,” stated Ken Wu, the AFA’s executive director. “The status quo of liquidating the biggest, best old-growth stands and exporting massive amounts of raw logs abroad is destroying ecosystems, jobs, and communities. Now, of all times, BC’s politicians must develop some wisdom, foresight, and a backbone for a sustainable forestry overhaul in this province. No politician or party will escape scrutiny on their forestry agenda this electoral season, we’ll see to that.”

Speakers included:

· Robert Morales – Chief Treaty Negotiator, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group

· Joe Martin – Tla-o-qui-aht canoe carver, Band Councillor, original Meares Island protest organizer

· Gisele Martin – Tla-o-qui-aht business operator and cultural educator

· Jon Cash – Vice-President, Chamber of Commerce of Port Renfrew

· Arnold Bercov – President, Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada (PPWC) union – Local 8

· Eric Hamilton-Smith – Campaigns Officer, BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU)

· Ken James – President, Youbou TimberLess Society

· Valerie Langer –BC Forest Campaign Director, ForestEthics

· Jens Wieting – Coastal Forest Campaigner, Sierra Club of BC

· Vicky Husband – BC Conservationist, Order of BC and Canada recipient

· TJ Watt – Forest Campaigner, Ancient Forest Alliance

· Ken Wu – Executive Director, Ancient Forest Alliance

The continued support of the BC governments for the status quo of unsustainable resource depletion and raw log exports has caused the increasing collapse of native ecosystems and rural communities. On Vancouver Island, 75% its original ancient forests have already been logged, including 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow. BC’s old-growth forests are vital to support endangered species, tourism, the climate, clean water, wild salmon, and many First Nations cultures.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on BC’s politicians to commit to:

– A provincial Old-Growth Strategy that will protect the province’s endangered old-growth forests.
– Ensure the sustainable logging of second-growth forests, which now constitute most of BC’s productive forest lands.
– End the export of raw logs to foreign mills.
– Support the retooling of coastal old-growth mills and the development of value-added wood processing facilities to handle second-growth logs.

BC’s old-growth forests are vital to support endangered species, tourism, the climate, clean water, wild salmon, and many First Nations cultures. On Vancouver Island, satellite photos show that about 75% of the original, productive old-growth forests have already been logged, including 90% of the valley-bottom ancient forests where the largest trees grow and most biodiversity resides. Only about 10% of Vancouver Island’s original, productive old-growth forests are protected in parks and Old-Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s). See: www.ancientforestalliance.org/old-growth-maps.php

So far the BC Liberal government has been defending continued, large-scale old-growth logging and raw log exports in the province, often citing highly misleading statistics to convey the false message that old-growth forests are not endangered.

The NDP opposition has so far stayed silent on a previous commitment by leader Adrian Dix in 2011 during his bid to become NDP leader that if elected he would, “Develop a long term strategy for old growth forests in the Province, including protection of specific areas that are facing immediate logging plans” if elected. See:[Original article no longer available]

See spectacular old-growth forest photos at: https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/
and videos at: https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/videos/
and maps at: https:// https://16.52.162.165/ancient-forests/before-after-old-growth-maps/

Ancient Forest Alliance

Today’s CHEK TV news clip on the battle to stop Island Timberlands from logging the mountainside above Cathedral Grove!

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https://bcove.me/la6w1bkg – link to CHEK TV news clip on the battle to stop Island Timberlands from logging the mountainside above Cathedral Grove!

22,000-Strong Petition Calls on BC Government to Protect BC’s Old-Growth Forests, Ensure Sustainable Second-Growth Logging, and to End Raw Log Exports

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The groundswell of citizens’ support for new, sustainable forest policies in BC, only two months before a BC election, will be evident today with the introduction of the “Petition to Protect British Columbia’s Endangered Old-Growth Forests and Forestry Jobs” into the Legislative Assembly on its last day this session by NDP MLA Scott Fraser (Alberni – Pacific Rim) this afternoon. The 22,000 signatures were garnered by the Ancient Forest Alliance since 2010 in through its public events, volunteers, door canvassers, and website.

The issues of old-growth logging and sustainable forestry have been spotlighted in the media heavily this week, due to a new controversy over potential logging adjacent to the world-famous Cathedral Grove (see: www.timescolonist.com/news/local/old-growth-near-cathedral-grove-set-for-imminent-logging-activists-1.90194) and over the BC Liberal government backing down on Tuesday from introducing a controversial bill to expand Tree Farm Licences on Crown land.

The 22,000 strong petition calls on the BC government to:

  • Undertake a Provincial Old-Growth Strategy that will inventory and protect the remaining old-growth forests in regions where they are scarce (eg’s. Vancouver Island, Southern Mainland Coast, Southern Interior, etc.)
  • Ensure the sustainable logging of second-growth forests, which now constitute the majority of forest lands in southern BC.
  • End the export of BC raw logs to foreign mills in order to ensure a guaranteed log supply for BC wood processing facilities.
  • Assist in the retooling of coastal BC sawmills and the development of value-added facilities to handle second-growth logs.
  • Undertake new land-use planning processes to protect endangered forests based on new First Nations land-use plans, ecosystem-based scientific assessments, and climate mitigation strategies through forest protection.

This Saturday, the Ancient Forest Alliance is also planning a major rally, the “Pre-Election Rally for Ancient Forests and BC Forestry Jobs” featuring prominent First Nations, conservationists, union leaders, and business owners. Over 1,300 people have already pre-confirmed their attendance for the rally on the website, with another 500 people on Facebook.

“Virtually the whole industrialized world is logging second or third-growth forests now, but the BC Liberal government still takes the anti-environmental stance that it’s fine to finish off the last unprotected ancient forests and to export raw logs. As such, so far they’ve been the ‘Despoilers of the Best Place on Earth’,” stated Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance executive director. “With a BC election coming up in only two months, let’s hope they reverse their intransigence and PR spin-doctoring that old-growth forests are not endangered. We’re more than willing to give credit where credit is due – and to also dish out consequences where they’re due.”

MLA Scott Fraser applauds the strong public reaction: “The public is demanding leadership to ensure that our remaining old-growth forests are not squandered for short-term gain; that they be allowed to survive for future generations, and that we work to revitalize the forest industry to include milling and value-added processing in the province. Our trees have great value standing, and when we log them we need to maximize the jobs for the benefit of people here in British Columbia. These petitions should serve as a wake-up call to an out of touch premier and her MLAs.”

Since the BC Liberals have come to power, over 30,000 BC forestry jobs have been lost and over 70 mills closed. About 6 million cubic metres of raw, unprocessed logs are being shipped each year to China, Japan, the USA, and Korean mills, while the BC Liberal government has repeatedly over-ruled the recommendations of its Timber Export Advisory Committee (TEAC) to make logs available for BC sawmills instead of exporting them. On February 21, prominent TEAC member David Gray resigned, stating that recent changes to the raw log export regulations was making it virtually impossible to do his job.

Landsat satellite photos reveal that about 75% of Vancouver Island’s original, productive old-growth forests have already been logged, including 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow and 99% of old-growth Douglas-firs. Only about 10% of the original, productive old-growth forests on Vancouver Island are protected in parks and Old-Growth Management Areas. Much of BC’s remaining old-growth forests are now marginal or low-productivity “bonsai” forests, with stunted trees growing in bogs, rocky mountainsides or at high elevations. Much of the remaining productive old-growth forests with the classic giant trees, or “ancient” forests, are still targeted for logging. See maps at: https://16.52.162.165/ancient-forests/before-after-old-growth-maps/

Old-growth forests support many species at risk that can’t flourish in younger forests; store two-to-three times more carbon per hectare than the second-growth tree plantations that they are being replaced with; are fundamental pillars of BCs multi-billion dollar coastal tourism industry; are important parts of many First Nations cultures; and provide clean water for spawning salmon and trout.

See spectacular old-growth forest photos and videos at:
www.ancientforestalliance.org

Ancient Forest Alliance

CHEK News – Cathedral Grove Threatened by Logging

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Direct Link to video: https://youtu.be/3exaYAqSrzw

Conservationists are calling for much stronger, comprehensive old-growth protection policies in BC after having discovered a major logging threat to Canada's most famous old-growth forest, Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park on Vancouver Island. Conservationists came across survey tape marked “Falling Boundary” and “Road Location” in an old-growth Douglas fir and hemlock forest only 300 meters from the park boundary last week. See photos and a map (based on some GPS points) at: https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/cathedral-grove-canyon/ The planned cutblock by Island Timberlands is about 40 hectares and lies within an area formerly intended for protection as an Ungulate (deer) Winter Range. It lies on the southwest facing slope of Mt. Horne on the ridge above the park and highway that millions of tourists pass through each year. Logging the area would further fragment the forest that is contiguous with the small park, destroying an important wildlife corridor from mountain ridge to valley bottom in an area that conservationists once hoped the park could include for the deer winter range. The logging would also threaten eco-tourism in the area, by destroying a major section of the popular hiking trail, the Mt. Horne Loop Trail, which the cutblock overlaps. The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC Liberals and NDP to commit to a provincial plan to protect the province's old-growth forests, to ensure sustainable second-growth forestry, and to end the export of raw, unprocessed logs to foreign mills. For private lands, the organization is calling for a provincial “park acquisition fund” of $40 million/year to purchase endangered ecosystems on private land for protection, similar to the park acquisition funds of various regional districts, like the Capital Regional District around Victoria.

Jane Morden

Old growth near Cathedral Grove set for imminent logging: activists

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An old-growth forest, close to Cathedral Grove and formerly protected as a critical wildlife corridor, is ringed with logging tape and conservation groups fear harvesting is imminent.

The marked 40-hectare cutblock, part of Island Timberlands private lands that government agreed could be removed from a tree farm licence in 2004, is about 300 metres from the boundary of MacMillan Provincial Park on the Alberni Highway. It is one of Vancouver Island’s most popular tourist attractions because of giant Douglas firs.

Island Timberlands did not return calls Monday or Tuesday, but company spokeswoman Morgan Kennah wrote in an email: “We have no comment on the planned story.”

The logging tape and road markings were found by members of the Ancient Forest Alliance. Ken Wu, founder of the environmental group, said logging would affect tourism and wildlife populations.

Wu wants both the Liberals and NDP to commit to re-regulating lands removed from the more stringent rules of tree farm licences.

“And we want to see a provincial park acquisition fund of $40 million a year to purchase endangered ecosystems on private land,” he said.

Alliance campaigner TJ Watt said Cathedral Grove is B.C’s iconic old-growth forest.

“It’s like the redwoods of Canada,” he said.“The fact that a company can just log the mountainside above Canada’s most famous old-growth forest underscores the B.C. government’s deep failure to protect our ancient forest heritage.”

The cutblock intersects the Mount Horne Loop Trail, which connects with Cathedral Grove.

“It’s a circle trail, so a lot of people walk up it,” said Jane Morden of Port Alberni Watershed-Forest Alliance.

The planned logging is the latest in a series of proposed cutblocks on lands that were supposed to be protected as critical habitat for wintering deer and other species.

When the government agreed to allow then-owners Weyerhaeuser to remove 88,000 hectares of private land from Tree Farm Licence 44, the province insisted that critical winter habitat should be protected for two years and a committee should then decide on further levels of protection, according to documents obtained through a freedom of information request by Alberni-Pacific Rim NDP MLA Scott Fraser.

But, after the private lands went to Island Timberlands, meetings with the government were “terminated” by the company in 2009, with government biologists saying the company’s harvesting plans were not science-based, the documents show.

There is no doubt that logging in the winter range would have an adverse effect, said independent biologist Mike Stini, a former government contractor.

“They are totally wrong to do this,” he said. “Habitat means it is the animals’ home. If someone takes your house away and you have to live on the streets, you won’t die right away, but your life will be short and your reproductive chances are going to be slim.”

Fraser, who has met with Forests Minister Steve Thomson about the breakdown in the original protection agreement, said the government signed the document and must take responsibility for enforcing it.

“The government gave away public control and that’s what caused this problem,” he said.

Fraser acknowledges it will be tough to regain control of private lands, but, if the NDP forms the next government, he would like to see changes to the Private Managed Forest Lands Act, possibly giving more say to local governments, and more public representation on the Private Managed Forest Lands Council, which is now made up of two industry representatives, two government appointees and a chair chosen by the other four members.

“But some of this might be very simple. Having a government that protects the public interest may be all it takes,” he said.

Read More: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/old-growth-near-cathedral-grove-set-for-imminent-logging-activists-1.90194

Environmentalists approve Liberal move on forest tenure

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Environmentalists are breathing a sigh of relief now that the BC government has backed off making changes to forestry licences.

Ken Wu with the ancient forest alliance says part of Bill 8 would have seen the logging rights to vast sections of public land granted to private companies.

“So it would have made it harder to establish new protected areas, to protect scenery and tourism opportunities. It would have made it more lengthy and difficult and complex to settle First Nations treaties, and it would have also taken away a lot of lands that communities would have wanted for community forestry.”

Wu says this proves the environmental movement is in fact a big player in BC politics — seeing as the Liberal government backed down with only days to go in the current session. 

Logs to be processed are pictured at Interfor's Acorn Division mill in Delta

Tourism in the Discovery Islands feels the force of logging

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Images of narrow sea channels backed by towering, thickly forested mountains have long been featured in government ads promoting tourism under the slogan: Super, Natural British Columbia.

While the government maintains that branding is being protected through careful forest management, ecotourism businesses in the Discovery Islands say a prime part of the pristine landscape on which Beautiful B.C.’s image rests is rapidly being ruined by logging.
“It’s heart-wrenching,” Ralph Keller, a spokesman for the Discovery Islands Marine Tourism Group, said Tuesday. “The Discovery Islands are probably the most geographically spectacular islands in the world … [but] in some places we have gone from beautifully forested shorelines to industrial logging … these channels have just been nuked.”

Forests Minister Steve Thomson was not immediately available for comment, but he said in an e-mail his government values the economic contributions of both tourism and forestry. He said the government, through its entity BC Timber Sales, has been trying to minimize the impact of logging on ecotourism by avoiding clearcut harvesting and doing more selective cutting.

“BC Timber Sales has been working closely with the local tourism operators and to ensure there is limited visual impact from the water of their proposed cutblocks,” he said. “BC Timber Sales has also agreed not to log during the summer kayak season.”

Mr. Keller, however, notes that the Discovery Islands, an archipelago north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island’s east coast, are the second most popular marine tourism destination in the province. Only the Tofino-Long Beach area on the west coast of Vancouver Island draws more visitors. He said the Discovery Islands support 120 tourism businesses, including lodges, resorts and nature tour operations, employing 1,200 people and generating $45-million in revenue annually.

Despite that, he said, the government is managing the area primarily for its logging values – and that is starting to hurt ecotourism.

“The Internet is great for getting your message out to the world,” he said. “But at the same time, when our clients see these logged areas they can post negative reviews just as quickly. You get TripAdvisor sending out bulletins that the place has been worked over, or it’s overrated as wilderness, and that really hurts you.”

Mr. Keller said the government had been protecting “view corridors” until 2003, when “they rewrote the rules” and relaxed controls over coastal logging, allowing it to take place in key wilderness tourism zones. “We had higher visual quality objectives 10 years ago,” he said. “The government reduced them because the forest companies were having a hard time [finding timber]. So they started approving logging along the shorelines and now there are cuts all over the place.”

He said when members of the Discovery Islands Marine Tourism Group complained to the government, they were told to take their concerns directly to the logging companies, several of which operate in the area. “But when you go to the licensees, their opening comment is ‘this cut block has been approved’ [by the government]. The licensees aren’t interested in talking to us … they just want to go about the business of logging.”

Mr. Keller said logging should be stopped until stakeholders have worked out a land use plan for the Discovery Islands.

NDP tourism critic Spencer Herbert said the government is damaging tourism and putting B.C.’s brand at risk. “We’re Super, Natural British Columbia,” he said. “One of our main marketing values has always been the wilderness, the unspoiled outdoors, and that’s something we have to protect.”

Mr. Herbert said wilderness tourism and logging can co-exist, but the government has to facilitate a dialogue between the parties to find solutions. “You don’t kill off one business to support another,” he said.

Read More: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/tourism-in-the-discovery-islands-feels-the-force-of-logging/article9703141/