Help AFA raise $250,000 by December 31st – we’re over halfway there!
Support the protection of old-growth forests in BC through Indigenous-led conservation, science, and public action. Donate to help safeguard ancient forests.
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TJ Watt2025-12-15 15:20:282025-12-15 17:55:17Help AFA raise $250,000 by December 31st – we’re over halfway there!
Chek News: Document reveals approval to harvest remnant old-growth in B.C.’s northwest
BC Timber Sales has ended a policy protecting remnant old-growth in northwest B.C., citing First Nations’ positions, sparking concerns from ecologists and residents.
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TJ Watt2025-12-08 13:49:362025-12-08 13:49:36Chek News: Document reveals approval to harvest remnant old-growth in B.C.’s northwest
Thank You to Our Silent Auction business Donors!
Thank you to these local businesses for generously donating items and experiences to our first-ever online Silent Auction!
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TJ Watt2025-12-08 13:17:322025-12-08 13:50:51Thank You to Our Silent Auction business Donors!
Statement on the Provincial Forest Advisory Council’s Interim Report – AFA & EEA
The Provincial Forest Advisory Council’s (PFAC) interim report falls short of addressing the root causes of BC’s forestry crisis or outlining the bold, decisive actions needed to reverse it, warn the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and Endangered Ecosystem Alliance (EEA).
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TJ Watt2025-11-21 10:13:452025-11-21 10:15:43Statement on the Provincial Forest Advisory Council’s Interim Report – AFA & EEA
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Radio Show Raises Support and Awareness for BC’s Endangered Old-Growth Forests
/in Announcements, Thank YouRyan Fletcher, host of the radio show Melodies in Mind (www.unconformed.com/melodies-in-mind) on CJSFJ 90.1 hosted a live radio show to support the work of the Ancient Forest Alliance. The show featured the Zolas (https://www.myspace.com/thezolas), Wanda Roberts, Madman’s Gospel (https://www.myspace.com/madmansgospel), Peter Hiltner (https://peterhiltner.com), and Glenn Chatten (www.soaringeaglemusic.com).
The Ancient Forest Alliance would like to extend a great thanks out to the host and artists involved for helping raise support and awareness around the effort to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests.
No Charlie Brown Tree
/in News CoverageO’ Christmas tree! O’ Christmas tree! Thy status is so precarious—at least if you’re the gnarly old beauty celebrating your one-year birthday in Avatar Grove. But this season isn’t just a time to celebrate: it’s time to get serious about conservation efforts, according to the Ancient Forest Alliance.
“The grove really is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. Protect it for generations to come, and you’ll be aiding everything from the tourism industry to first nations groups, the environment and more. Cut it down, and you’ll have to wait another 1,000 years to have a chance at something this powerful again,” says the alliance’s TJ Watt.
Watt, who originally found the site while hiking with a friend, has since joined other members in helping with the campaign by taking photos and leading hikes to the area. He says it’s a great relief to see the infamous gnarled tree still standing after one year, but knows the grove isn’t out of the woods yet—literally. Currently, the section of crown land is still zoned as tree farm 46 log-able property, despite the fact that the public, advocates and politicians have called on the B.C. Liberals to adjust the land use orders to protect the area.
“Right now, with all the changes in government for both the NDP and Liberals, we have a fantastic opportunity for seeing some real progressive policies on all sides,” says Ken Wu, alliance head and long-time enviro-advocate. “If Avatar Grove falls, rest assured we’ll make sure the BC Liberals do too. The community is behind this, and we’re all calling for its protection—now, even more than before.”
To check out the grove yourself, hop on board a tour in the new year: ancientforestalliance.org
Link to original article: https://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/the-week-december-23/
Avatar hopes high in Port Renfrew chamber
/in News CoverageIt’s been a year since an area known as Avatar Grove, near Port Renfrew, has become more widely known.
To mark the first anniversary of the discovery of the groves by the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA), the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce is adding its voice to the chorus calling for the grove’s long-term preservation.
The grove has been the subject of a couple of features in the Sooke News Mirror, most recently, a front-page placing on the October 6, 2010 issue. On that occasion a reporter was along for the ride with the AFA’s TJ Watt and Ken Wu, plus the MLA for Juan de Fuca, John Horgan and CRD Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks for a tour of the grove.
The AFA has since planned a monthly schedule of tours to introduce more people to the location where giant cedar, fir and spruce trees dwell. A place the AFA is determined to preserve.
The grove is only minutes from the Village of Port Renfrew – proximity the local Chamber president feels is an important and valuable local asset.
Over and above an existing desire to see the trees spared from the chainsaw, Betsworth feels they are a draw for visitors, and can grow in that capacity.
“Avatar could be the difference between Port Renfrew surviving or not,” she said on December 18.
“Right now we’re dealing with problems in our fishing industry… with cutbacks in salmon and halibut quotas. We went through that last year and it’s not looking very good for this coming year. That’s a trickle down effect – leading to less accommodations needed, fewer restaurant visits. In my opinion keeping Avatar Grove alive, as well as the rest of our hiking trails and surfing, could be our saviour.”
The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the B.C. government to protect remaining old growth forests.
See original article bclocalnews.com/sookenewsmirror