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No Charlie Brown Tree

Dec 23 2010/in News Coverage

O’ 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

Dec 22 2010/in News Coverage

It’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

Port Renfrew’s ‘Avatar Grove’ To Become Eco-Tourism Site

Dec 21 2010/in Announcements

The Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Ancient Forest Alliance to both raise awareness about the endangered ‘Avatar Grove ‘ and call for it’s protection.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is planning monthly public hikes to the Grove which features 50 hectares of old growth trees, located in an area just discovered by the Alliance a year ago.

Port Renfrew’s Chamber of Commerce has requested the BC government protect the Avatar Grove, for it’s eco-tourism potential, and the Sooke Regional Tourism Association has echoed that request.