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Public Hike to the Avatar Grove – Saturday, Nov.5th.

Nov 1 2011/in Announcements

*** Note – New meeting place for the fall/winter hikes!

Join the Ancient Forest Alliance’s Ken Wu and TJ Watt for a hike to the Avatar Grove this coming Saturday. Come out and learn about the ecology and politics surrounding BC’s endangered old-growth forests and experience the grove’s gnarly redcedars and giant Douglas-firs first hand!

Itinerary:

– Meet at 1:00pm in Port Renfrew at the Port Renfrew Hotel/Pub (It is located in town on the right-hand side of the road a short distance after passing the Coastal Kitchen Cafe). Upon arrival, please watch to see how parking is being organized to keep space open for general business costumers.
– Leave in a convoy to the Avatar Grove.
– Hike the Avatar Grove and finish by 4:00pm

IMPORTANT – MUST READ!

***THIS IS A WILDERNESS AREA***

Only those with a moderate hiking ability and comfortable hiking on rugged terrain with fallen logs, steep slopes, and no official trail, and with a firm sense of balance, can come on the hike. All participants will be required to sign a waiver form.

*No dogs. They can disturb wildlife including bears, elk, deer, cougars, wolves, raccoons, and Sasquatch in the area.

*Participants must bring their own snacks, water, proper clothing and footwear for all weather conditions, medical requirements, and wonderful attitude!

*Be sure to support the local community by buying food and other items in town!

*Directions and a Google map to the Avatar Grove from Port Renfrew can be found at: https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/ancient-forests/directions-to-avatar-grove/

Please let us know if you’re coming and how many people you’ll be bringing, so we can get a sense of our numbers.
You can email us at: info@ancientforestalliance.org

1 & 1/2 Annual Tree Huggers Ball – Dance Party Extravaganza!

Nov 1 2011/in Announcements

This Friday, students with the University of Victoria Ancient Forest Committee have again organized an awesome night full of groovy MUSIC, ridiculous contests, PRIZES, and foot stomping good times, all in support of our endangered ancient forests! Come on out and enjoy this dance party extravaganza!

Date: Friday, Nov. 4th
Time: 8:00 pm – 1:00 am
Location: Felicita’s Pub @ UVic
Tickets: $10 – Available in the UVSS booth in the Student Union Building (SUB) and at the door.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Ancient Forest Alliance. Last year the club packed the pub with over 300 people and raised roughly $5200 for AFA! This year they’re aiming to top that mark!

AFA's Ken Wu stands beside a giant Arbutus tree on unused DND lands along Ocean Boulevard near Fort Rodd National Historic Park

Conservationists fearful of DND land sale

Oct 28 2011/in News Coverage

Environmental protection should be the first consideration if the military decides to sell surplus land around Greater Victoria, conservation groups say.

Some of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems are found on Department of National Defence land in the capital region, the groups say.

DND, which controls more than 4,000 hectares of land around Greater Victoria, is looking at selling surplus land. The Ancient Forest Alliance has called on the federal government to create protected areas or turn parcels over to agencies which can protect ecosystems.

“It might be surprising to most Canadians, but, in many cases, ecosystems in the best condition in Canada are on DND lands,” said Ken Wu of the AFA.

“The occasional bullets and bombs still often have lower impacts than the large-scale industrial resource extraction, clearcutting, strip-mining, oil drilling, agriculture and suburban sprawl that impact other lands.”

Old-growth coastal Douglas fir forests and Garry oak meadows are among ecosystems represented in DND-owned areas such as Rocky Point and Mary Hill in Metchosin, the area next to Fort Rodd National Historic Park and Royal Roads University, which leases land from DND.