Announcements

To the provincial government, which says enough old-growth trees have been protected in the area between Sooke and Port Renfrew. That does not bode well for the trees in an area near Port Renfrew, nicknamed Avatar Grove, which are under threat of a harvest. The Forests Ministry says 24 per cent of the grove will be protected, and that is enough.

Join the Ancient Forest Alliance and Ancient Forest Committees to see an amazing stand of old-growth forests (including massive Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and redcedar), next to the Seymour River in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve!

On Sunday, July 25, join the Ancient Forest Alliance's forest campaigner + photographer TJ Watt and communications director Brendan Harry to visit the magnificent but endangered “Avatar Grove”. The grove is home to dozens of ancient redcedar trees, many of which are at least 13 feet across, centuries old, and covered in massive alien-shaped burls! Rare old-growth Douglas fir trees, of which 99% of have been logged, are also found in the grove. Avatar Grove is currently flagged for logging despite its potential to become a major tourism destination, the “Cathedral Grove of Port Renfrew”, and important ecological value.

Ancient forest campaigner and photographer TJ Watt has been steadily uploading new shots of BC's biggest trees and most massive stumps to Google Earth, a popular global satellite-imaging program. This allows users around the world to view ancient forest photographs on both Google Earth and Google Maps.

Join TJ Watt, Hannah Carpendale and Michelle Connolly from the Ancient Forest Alliance to learn about the ecology and politics of BC's ancient forests and find out how YOU can get involved in the growing movement to save them! Thursday July 29th 7pm-8:30pm Burnaby Public Library, McGill Branch 4595 Albert St. (near Hastings & Willingdon)

A federal Liberal member of Parliament is continuing his drive to expand the boundaries of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Dr. Keith Martin, MP for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca, toured a section of old-growth forest and some clear cuts near Port Renfrew last week with members of the Ancient Forest Alliance.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone at Radio Contact Productions, Bigfish Lodge, Wild Coast Cottages, and Sitka Surfboards for organising such a successful event and so generously supporting the AFA. Thanks, as well, to all the volunteers, the event sponsors, the amazing musicians, and everyone who attended in support of the AFA!

Another massive THANK YOU is owed to Cindy Bernicot, who organised a very successful night of belly dancing, beer, and burgers in Fort Langley on June 5th. Almost 50 dinner tickets sold for the event and, all told, it raised nearly $600 for the Ancient Forest Alliance. We are extremely grateful for all this support at this crucial early stage of the organisation.

After hosting 7 “Karma Classes” in support of the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA), Bikram’s Yoga in Saanich (https://www.bikramyogasaanich.com/) mailed a cheque to the AFA for nearly $1000!