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Western Toad

Mar 3 2026/in Creature Feature, Educational

The western toad is a widespread and adaptable inhabitant of diverse ecosystems across British Columbia, including the coastal rainforests. Remarkably, it’s the only amphibian native to the islands of Haida Gwaii. Western toads are easily recognizable by their waddling gait (unlike the dramatic leaps of frogs), their mottled, warty skin, and the two large “warts” behind each eye, which are actually poison-producing parotid glands.

Although they spend much of the year solitary and secretive, for just a week or two in spring, western toads turn sociable, gathering en masse to breed along lakeshores and ponds. They are astonishingly prolific — a single female can lay up to 16,000 eggs. Males can be identified by dark pads on their “thumbs” that help them grip females during mating. If an eager male mistakenly clasps another male in the confusion of the breeding frenzy, the captured male gives a distinctive “release call” that quickly corrects the error.

Later in summer, when the tadpoles transform into tiny toadlets, they begin their overland migration in massive numbers. In the community of Nakusp, an annual Toadfest celebrates this natural wonder and helps thousands of toadlets safely cross roads on their way to the forest. Like Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows, these small travellers need protection from motorcars! Once safely in their forest habitat, western toads may live for 10–12 years, though females usually don’t reach breeding age until around six.

Protecting the places they breed, migrate, and shelter is key to ensuring western toads remain part of BC’s ecosystems for generations to come.

NOW HIRING: Forest Campaigner

Mar 3 2026/in Employment

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is hiring a passionate Forest Campaigner to join our team and help protect old-growth forests in BC!

Duration: Full-time, permanent staff position
Location: Vancouver Island or Lower Mainland (home office). Willing/able to travel to the office in Victoria and sites across the province quite regularly.
Compensation: $70,000 to $74,800 per annum in relation to skills and experience, extended health and dental benefits, wellness days, and professional development opportunities.
Estimated application deadline: Posting will remain open until the right candidate is found. Early applications are encouraged.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is a registered charity dedicated to protecting endangered old-growth forests in BC while ensuring a swift transition to a more sustainable, value-added second-growth forestry industry. Since our founding in 2010, AFA has become BC’s leading organization on this front, reaching international audiences through our compelling advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns. We specialize in public education and mobilization, building alliances with key allies, on-the-ground exploration and documentation of old-growth forests, mapping and research, and engaging governments to achieve policy change for ancient forests in BC. The provincial government has promised a “paradigm shift” in its approach to the conservation and management of old-growth forests in BC. By joining the AFA at this pivotal time, you can help influence and shape public policies that will determine the fate of the old-growth forests in BC for years to come.

Position Overview

The AFA seeks a driven, highly motivated conservationist with exceptional campaigning aptitude, extensive ecological knowledge of ecosystems in BC, and an understanding of how to collaboratively develop and coordinate campaigns that raise awareness, inspire action, and move decision-makers. Reporting to the Executive Team, the Forest Campaigner will produce persuasive and accurately written campaign materials, engage key stakeholders, First Nations, and political decision-makers, follow and analyze critical science and policy initiatives, and help coordinate various campaign activities. Bring your passion for nature, skilled writing abilities, ecological background, and strategic thinking to the task of protecting endangered ancient forests.

Key Responsibilities

Develop accurate and compelling written campaign materials (media releases, calls to action, etc.) to mobilize citizens, raise awareness, and help facilitate policy change.
Closely track and quickly respond to relevant changes in the political landscape.
Help coordinate campaign projects and manage timelines and budgets.
Use mapping tools to monitor old-growth forests and assess the positive or negative impacts of new policies, legislation, or other developments.
Engage key partners, stakeholders, government and industry officials, and non- traditional allies (chambers of commerce, tourism associations, etc.)
Support government relations strategy planning and implementation.
Work with campaigners and the Communications Coordinator to develop digital content and print materials (videos, newsletters, infographics, brochures, social posts, etc.)
Help organize and deliver public presentations, rallies, and other events.
Explore old-growth forests with the team to build knowledge and inform communication.
Research grant opportunities and work with the Communications Coordinator on applications. Monitor successful grants for reporting.

Essential Skills and Aptitudes

Passionate about old-growth forest conservation.
Ecological background with an understanding of issues related to old-growth forest conservation, BC’s forestry sector, forest ecology, and relevant BC politics.
Writing abilities that are highly accurate, prolific, and persuasive, with skills in making complex ideas understandable and appropriate to specific audiences.
Strategic thinking that considers social, political, economic, and other relevant factors.
An outcome-oriented approach to campaigning with strong organizational and project management skills.
The ability to work effectively under pressure, be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
Strong social and verbal communication skills. Comfortable with public speaking.
Takes initiative, is highly self-motivated, and works well independently while contributing to a vibrant team.

Experience

Significant work experience working on nature-oriented environmental campaigns.
Demonstrated success in developing and implementing campaigns, organizing strategies, and tactics.
A background in Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Conservation Biology, Biology, and Forest Sciences is an asset.
Experience engaging and working with impacted communities (local governments and grassroots groups), Indigenous leadership, and other allies (e.g. the business sector, scientific community, etc.)
Experience with GIS mapping software and/or LiDAR analysis is an asset.

How to Apply

Please submit your application to Joan at info@ancientforestalliance.org with “Application: Forest Campaigner” in the subject line.
Please send a cover letter and resume/CV in one PDF document with only your first and last names in the file name. E.g. John-Smith.pdf

We thank all applicants for the diversity, skill, and experience they offer. Our selection process is ongoing until we find the successful applicant, and only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

It’s AFA’s 16th Birthday!

Feb 26 2026/in Announcements

On Tuesday, February 24th, we’re celebrating 16 years of working together with you, our community, to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests in BC.

To mark the date, will you chip in $16 or more to support our work?

Yes, I’ll donate!

As we mark 16 years of protecting old-growth forests in BC, we’re asking you to help power the work ahead.

Your support has helped us secure major milestones, including early wins like protecting Avatar Grove and recent ones, such as the commitment of over a billion dollars in provincial-federal funding for nature conservation in BC. See a timeline of our past successes!

Please consider making a gift of $16 or more today. Whether $6, $16, $160, or $1,600, every dollar helps ensure we can continue holding the government accountable for protecting endangered ancient forests and ecosystems in BC. Read more below about the important work your funds will support.

Today, old-growth protection in BC is at a pivotal moment. While we’ve achieved major breakthroughs, the pressure from industry and government to continue logging the last ancient giants is intensifying amid escalating concerns about the economy. Instead, we must rapidly transition BC away from its economic dependence on old-growth logging toward a value‑added, second‑growth forestry and a protected areas plan with science‑based targets to proactively safeguard the most endangered ecosystems.

With your continued support in 2026, we are working to:

Strengthen our team with a new Forest Campaigner
Increase our support for Indigenous-led protected areas
Document and reveal the beauty — and destruction — of old-growth forests
Expand our mapping, LiDAR, and GIS capabilities
Increase public pressure and grow the movement for old-growth protection
Hold governments accountable and respond rapidly to new threats
Advance a BC Protected Areas Strategy guided by ecosystem-based targets
Advance a long-term conservation economy for BC

Make a Charitable Donation

Other Ways To Mark This Milestone With Us

If monetary giving isn’t feasible right now, there are still plenty of ways you can support ancient forest protection and old-growth forests for our 16th birthday!

Take action! Send a message to the BC government telling it to take a proactive approach to protecting the endangered old-growth forests and diverse ecosystems across BC in partnership with First Nations.
Phone the office of the Premier at: 250-387-1715
Email, phone, or schedule a virtual meeting with your MLA. Read our talking points and tips to help prepare.
Send a handwritten letter to Minister Parmar and/or the Premier at: British Columbia Parliament Buildings, 501 Belleville St, Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Follow and share our work on social media!↓

Over the past 16 years, we’ve achieved big wins together. But we’re still facing critical challenges ahead. Your care, commitment, and generosity are integral to protecting endangered old-growth forests in BC, and we’re profoundly thankful for the role you play. Every action matters, and your support makes this work possible.

For the forests,

The Ancient Forest Alliance team
TJ Watt, Joan Varley, Issy Turnill, Coral Forbes, Kristen Bounds, Nadia Sheptycki, and Zeinab Salenhiankia

The six members of AFA staff stand beside each other in front of an ancient Doulas-fir tree.

The AFA team from left to right: Joan Varley (Administrative Director), Coral Forbes (Donor Relations and Administrative Associate), Nadia Sheptycki (Victoria Canvass Director), Kristen Bounds (Communications Coordinator), Issy Turnill (Forest Campaigner), TJ Watt (Senior Campaigner & Photographer)