BC Government considers protecting "Avatar Grove"

The BC government announced Friday that it is looking into the possibility of protecting the old growth trees in the “Avatar Grove” near Port Renfrew.

Forests minister Pat Bell said in an interview Friday that he has asked the province’s chief forester to review existing regulations for protecting trees that, because of their age, have values that make them worth preserving. [Original article no longer available]

“Certainly we have been hearing the message for some time from different organizations that we should be considering some tools, perhaps new tools that we could use when particularly unique trees are identified. They may be individual tees or small areas like the Avatar Grove that provide incremental value over and above the timber resource value,” Bell said.

The Avatar Grove is an easily accessible stand of red cedars and Douglas firs on southern Vancouver Island, a 15-minute drive from Port Renfrew.

*The Vancouver Sun posted this short article along with 19 of the AFA’s big tree, big stump, and Avatar Grove shots online: Click here to see the original article and photo gallery