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‘Back to the Roots’ — Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Film Night

Nov 19 2016/in Announcements

Wednesday Nov. 23, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm)
Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway – see MAP)
VIMFF website here.

Be sure to check out ‘Back to the Roots’, a forest-themed evening at this year’s @Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF). AFA photographer TJ Watt will be on stage presenting the AFA’s documentary produced by Roadside Films, the Climbing Big Lonely Doug Drone video, and a slideshow of his top images from the west coast. The night also features a peek at Daniel Pierce’s Heartwood Documentree and a new film on the ancient forests of the Incomappleux Valley titled “Primeval” by Damien Gillis. Invite others on Facebook HERE.

Hope to see you there!

Bring On the Drones

Nov 18 2016/in News Coverage

This past March, B.C. conservation photographer TJ Watt captured something incredible on camera: the ascent of three climbers up Canada’s second-largest known Douglas-fir tree. The tree, affectionately known as “Big Lonely Doug,” 216 feet high and 12.4 feet in diameter, stands in a clear-cut north of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island in a place known as Eden Grove.

Watt captured the climb using a DJI Phantom 3 Pro Drone. The video, made public in August, has already garnered more than 70,000 views on Facebook. The striking video is part of an emerging trend of using technology such as drones to bring more mainstream attention to environmental and wildlife issues.

“It’s a great way to bring to life these remote yet truly special areas, and bring them into people’s living rooms,” Watt said.

The climb, which was done by the Ancient Forest Alliance and Arboreal Collective, served several purposes: to highlight the grandeur of “Doug” using drones, bring awareness to the issue of logging and old-growth forests, and to document the climb for a cross-Canada book project celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbiW_Q2lCU

Seven Iconic Canadian Trees

Nov 18 2016/in News Coverage

Canadian Geographic has listed “Canada's Gnarliest Tree”, the burly redcedar in Avatar Grove, and the San Juan Spruce near Port Renfrew, which the Ancient Forest Alliance have popularized, as two of the most iconic trees in Canada! Take note that the San Juan Spruce is no longer the 2nd largest spruce in Canada in timber volume, as a large part of its main trunk broke off in a severe storm not long ago. Nonetheless it is still a spectacular tree worth visiting!

See the article and illustrations at: https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/seven-iconic-canadian-trees#.WCx8KMGM4WI