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DEADLINE OCT 31st! Help Establish a new South Okanagan Similkameen National Park – Please SEND a MESSAGE now!

Oct 31 2015/in Take Action

For over a decade, conservationists have been working to establish a national park in the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys near Osoyoos in the hottest region of southern British Columbia, in order to protect some of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada. While this area is best known for its grasslands and the “pocket desert” (antelope brush ecosystem), it also includes significant stands of old-growth Ponderosa pines – perhaps the most fragrant smelling tree in Canada – and interior Douglas-firs, particularly in the central part of the proposal (known as “Area 2”, around Mount Kobau) and scattered throughout the proposed park lands.

The Province of B.C. recently announced a new proposed conservation framework, including national park designation, for the South Okanagan-Similkameen and they have invited public comments until October 31. This is wonderful news! And now we need to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a national park here.

Please take the time to SEND a MESSAGE to let the province know what makes this area special to you, and why this deserves the highest level of protection – especially by including Area 2 in the national park.

Go to: https://sosnationalpark.wordpress.com/

Photo Gallery of Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction! October 2015

Oct 28 2015/in Photo Gallery

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.

Forest Dance Film ‘Verge: Dancing a Scarred and Sacred Landscape’ Screening at Planet in Focus Film Fest (Toronto, Oct 21-25, 2015)

Oct 19 2015/in Announcements

Later this week, the short film ‘Verge: Dancing a Scarred and Sacred Landscape’ will be screening at the Planet in Focus Film Festival (https://planetinfocus.org) in Toronto. ‘Verge’ is a collaboration between filmmaker Leslie Kennah, choreographer Anna Kraulis, and the AFA’s Hannah Carpendale, and features dancers moving through the magnificent Avatar Grove and the devastated clearcut landscape surrounding Big Lonely Doug, near Port Renfrew on southern Vancouver Island. The festival, which runs from Oct 21-25th, will feature a diversity of environmental films, workshops and other activities. ‘Verge’ will be screening alongside feature length film ‘Puffin Patrol’ on Sunday Oct 25.

**TICKET CONTEST: 2 free festival tickets are available for AFA supporters – for a chance to win one, please contact info@ancientforestalliance.org **