Echo Lake of east Vancouver

VANCOUVER: Friday, Nov. 23 – UBC Ancient Forest Slideshow

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When:  Friday November 23, 3:30pm
Where:  UBC Forest Sciences Centre, Room 1221 (at the corner of Main Mall and Agronomy Rd)

Join the UBC Ancient Forest Committee and Ken Wu of the Ancient Forest Alliance for a spectacular slideshow on the ecology, wildlife, biggest trees, and politics surrounding BC’s old-growth forests including at Echo Lake east of Vancouver, and the Upper Walbran Valley, Avatar Grove, Mossy Maple Grove (Fangorn Forest), and Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

Find out how YOU can help to ensure the protection of our ancient forests and a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

The Great Turning Variety Show – Fundraiser for AFA! Friday, Nov. 9th.

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This Friday night folks in Victoria are generously hosting a fundraiser for the AFA at the Cenote Lounge (768 Yates Street) with awesome live music, DJ’s and food! Doors open at 7:30pm & tickets $10 at the door. The show goes until close at 2am. We’d love to see you there!

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/524612457566693/

The Sts'ailes' Chehalis Store is a one-stop shop for most of your daily needs. Stop by for some fuel and check out the featured native art hand-crafted locally.

Spend your conservation dollars for Echo Lake and eagles in the local communities

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The Ancient Forest Alliance is currently campaigning to protect the Echo Lake Ancient Forest between Mission and Agassiz in Sts’ailes First Nation territory. When visiting this region, including the Fraser Valley Eagle Festival on Nov. 17-18th, please show your support for the local communities by spending your dollars in those towns. Lets make it clear that conservation is good for business!

Below are links to the local business listing and tourism webpages:

Sts’ailes, Mission, Agassiz, and Harrison Hotsprings.

Echo Lake of east Vancouver

Slideshow Presentation: The Ecology and Politics of BC’s Endangered Old-Growth Forests

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When:    Friday  Nov 2
Time:     3:30 – 4:30 pm
Where:   Forest Sciences Center 1221, University of BC, Vancouver
Join Ken Wu of the Ancient Forest Alliance (www.AncientForestAlliance.org) and Cori Creba of the UBC Ancient Forest Committee for a spectacular slideshow on the ecology, wildlife, biggest trees, and politics surrounding BC’s old-growth forests including at Echo Lake east of Vancouver, and the Upper Walbran Valley, Avatar Grove, Mossy Maple Grove (Fangorn Forest), and Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

Find out how YOU can help to ensure the protection of our ancient forests and a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

 

Saturday: Cortes Youth Champion Bill M211; The Species At Risk Protection Act

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Youth from Cortes Island, BC are hosting an educational rally on the legislative grounds in Victoria this coming  Saturday, October 13 from 11 am – 4 pm.

Cortes youth are championing Bill M211, the Species At Risk Protection Act that has been proposed by the NDP, achieved first reading and is presently tabled.

Forest lands on Cortes Island threatened by industrial logging prompted the youth to research out what protection, if any, was afforded the numerous species at risk making these forest lands their home.

The youth discovered that BC has no species at risk protection legislation in place; together with Alberta, the only 2 Canadian provinces without legal protection for species at risk.

The youth further learned that polls show 85% of British Columbians are in favour of protection for the 1900 species at risk in BC.

So… they made the decision to champion Bill M211!!!!!!!!!

Over the past 6 months Cortes youth and their friends in Victoria have created original artwork depicting 8 of the species at risk occurring in the forest lands threatened on Cortes Island.

They have had buttons made from this artwork and will be handing these out to the public in downtown Victoria (by donation) in conjunction with their educational rally on the front steps of the legislature.

Their strategy is that buttons travel far on public lapels and disseminate the information widely!!!!!!!

Fairahn Reid and Eira-Shay Barker Hart have taken the lead in this youth initiative, with the support of fellow Cortes students and new friends made while attending school in Victoria. Show them your support on Saturday if you are in Victoria or sign on to the petition to bring in legal protection for species at risk in BC at www.protectbiodiversity.ca/action

Kudos to our youth for speaking out for the protection of species at risk!!

An example of intact ancient temperate rainforest alongside a fresh old-growth clearcut.

EIGHT MONTH COUNTDOWN until the BC Election!

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Please DONATE to help the Ancient Forest Alliance build a much-needed “War Chest” of funding during this crucial pre-election period to shape major provincial policy decisions.

DONATE at: https://16.52.162.165/donations.php

The Greatest Opportunity is NOW for New Forest Policy Commitments

The next eight months will be a crucial time period for the fate of BC’s old-growth forests – in fact, the most important in BC’s history for ancient forests. In May, 2013, there will be a provincial election. During this pre-election period, politicians both in government and in the opposition are highly sensitive to public pressure as they seek power in the upcoming election. This is the time they must listen to the Ancient Forest Alliance and thousands of our supporters calling for new forest policy commitments including a Provincial Old-Growth Strategy that will protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and that will ensure a sustainable, value-added second-growth forest industry.

Times Have Changed

Over the past three decades, the level of public awareness and sympathy for the protection of BC’s old-growth forests has steadily grown…so much so that today, the social expectations that the last of these magnificent ancient forests be protected and a sustainable second-growth forest industry be established is far in the majority of public opinion. However, the fate of ancient forests is not necessarily at the forefront of most people’s minds, and may not be a voting issue for many yet. We need to get it there through a massive campaign now.

All indications are there will be a major shift in the politics of this province in the upcoming election. But there are no guarantees that whoever rules BC next, they will fundamentally change the status quo of old-growth forest liquidation in BC – unless there is massive public pressure coming from BC’s electorate. NOW is the time that we must make the decisive, large-scale, concerted public push for a new provincial plan to protect our endangered forests and jobs.

What’s at Stake?

The fate of BC’s forests is not just “one among many environmental issues”, but is the overriding, most significant environmental land-use issue in the province for the simple reason that forests are by far the dominant part of BC’s landbase and industrial logging exerts the largest ecological footprint of any land-use activity in BC – 200,000 hectares of forests are logged every year, an area about twenty times the size of the city of Vancouver.  This logging includes tens of thousands of hectares of old-growth forests each year. Logging of BC’s forests heavily impacts the climate, endangered species, water quality, wild fisheries, First Nations cultures, tourism, scenery, recreation, and our quality of lives.

What will we DO?

The Ancient Forest Alliance leads the way among BC conservation groups campaigning for a province-wide forestry overhaul to save ancient forests and forestry jobs. History demonstrates that only large-scale awareness and mobilization of a broad diversity of citizens can ensure major societal shifts, including how the tens of millions of hectares of BC’s forests are going to be managed. Over the next eight months we will:

  • Meet and engage with a large and diverse number of politicians both in government and opposition.
  • Build swing-riding campaigns in communities where politicians are particularly sensitive to public opinion.
  • Organize a province-wide presentation tour to inform and rally communities across BC.
  • Meet with a large diversity of stakeholders to build support among businesses, unions, faith groups, municipal leaders, scientists, and many others.
  • Organize a large array of public events including hikes, rallies, slideshows, and meetings.
  • Garner an unprecedented amount of media coverage to raise public awareness in BC about the centrality of ancient forests and raw log exports as provincial election issues.
  • Produce several vital new reports on the status of old-growth forests (including new maps) and on the economic value of standing old-growth forests.
  • Aim to build a new boardwalk in the Avatar Grove on the existing heavily used trail, once we receive the final permissions from various levels of government to proceed. The Avatar Grove was protected from logging earlier this year by a successful two year campaign led by the AFA.
  • Continue to fight for and support the protection of specific endangered ancient forests, such as the Castle Grove in the Walbran Valley, Mossy Maple Grove, Mclaughlin Ridge, Cathedral Grove Canyon, Stillwater Bluffs, Day Road Forest, Wilson Creek Forest, Christy Clark Grove, Cameron Valley Firebreak, areas within BC’s inland rainforest, areas within the drier old-growth forests of BC’s interior, and many more areas, while emphasizing the need for a province-wide old-growth plan.

…and much more!

We Need Funding to Take Advantage of this Most Opportune Time

Unfortunately the AFA is highly underfunded and we are currently in a very tough financial spot. To top it off, we really need to greatly expand our funding base for the heightened period of intense campaigning over the next 8 months before a BC election!

We can’t let the BEST OPPORTUNITY to ensure the protection of BC’s ancient forests SLIP BY by due to a lack of funding. IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO SUPPORT US, IT IS NOW.

Again, you can donate by going to:  https://16.52.162.165/donations.php

With your help, we’re confident now that we’ll change the history of BC’s forests over the coming intense eight months, for the benefit of future generations of human and non-human communities throughout BC.

For the Wild,

Ken Wu, Joan Varley, TJ Watt, Hannah Carpendale

 

TOMORROW LUSH "Charity Pot" Celebration Day with the Ancient Forest Alliance

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TOMORROW LUSH “Charity Pot” Celebration Day with the Ancient Forest Alliance!

A Mossy Maple Hug and “thank you” to LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics for choosing the Ancient Forest Alliance to participate in their Charity Pot initiative.  This fundraising initiative offers grants to environmental groups through the sale of their “Charity Pot” Hand and Body Lotion, and will benefit and boost the Ancient Forest Alliance’s campaign for the protection of BC’s endangered old-growth forests.

To celebrate the Charity Pot and the Ancient Forest Alliance, LUSH is hosting a party at the downtown location at 1003 Government St. in Victoria TOMORROW, Saturday, September 15th from Noon until 6pm where you can pick up an Ancient Forest Alliance “Charity Pot”, hear more about the AFA’s campaigns, enter a draw for a spectacular print by forest campaigner and photographer TJ Watt, or pick up a selection of our greeting cards ($3.00) or a Big Tree Poster ($10 each or 3 for $25).

LUSH Cosmetics
1003 Government St., Downtown Victoria
250-384-5874

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LUSHGovtSt
LUSH website: https://www.lush.ca/

Hikers walk past a giant Douglas-fir in the Lower Avatar Grove.

Avatar Grove Boardwalk Update

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Hello AFA friends,

As many of you are aware, the AFA has been planning for several months to build a boardwalk in the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew. Our goal is to ensure the ecological integrity of this recently protected area, and to enhance visitor safety by building boardwalk on the more sensitive parts of the existing trail. So far we have been steadily working to complete the requisite applications and numerous studies, reviews and stakeholder consultations in order to obtain approval from the BC government for the boardwalk’s construction. We have also been working hard to secure the needed supplies, some of the needed funds, expert advisors and partners to make this happen. It has been a lot of work and there have been many hurdles to get through!

Currently we are awaiting our final approvals from several levels of government in order to begin work, which we expect could be within the next several weeks. Our original goal was to begin construction earlier this summer, so we are eager and excited commence as soon as we obtain the final permissions. We thank you for your generous support and patience as we move forward with this. Please watch for future updates regarding possible volunteer opportunities and the project’s status.

 

Photo by TJ Watt

Long-Term Vision for Forest Management and Forest Economy Missing

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The Special Committee on Timber Supply’s report raises questions about both the Liberals’ and the NDP’s commitment to a long-term forest strategy, says the Independent MLA for Cariboo North.

“These recommendations will not support sustainable change,” said MLA Bob Simpson. “What I see in this report are politicians on both sides passing the buck to local communities with no long-term strategy for success. They’re willing to let communities decide whether to log their protected forests, but what happens when those are gone? The politicians will have moved on, leaving affected communities holding the bag.”

Simpson says there are five areas in particular that need attention:

1. Reforestation programs must be directed at growing healthy forests that will be adaptable to climate change. “I am pleased to see the Committee highlighted silviculture as an area that needs more attention, but the focus needs to be on managing for healthy, resilient forest ecosystems, rather than simply growing more timber,” said Simpson.

2. A thorough review of the Beetle Action Coalitions (BACs) is necessary. “Before there is any more investment in these BACs, they need to be completely audited for effectiveness and restructured,” said Simpson.

3. Act on the recommendations of the Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council. The FFESC report recommends looking at all aspects of forestry and land use planning through the lens of climate change. “Their recommendations must be implemented immediately,” said Simpson. They include promoting resilient forests and developing hardwood management strategies.

4. Prioritize new economic opportunities. “Minister Thomson has said that utilizing bio-energy and biomass will be an important part of mitigating the upcoming economic impacts. What we really need is for the Minister, or someone in Cabinet or even in the Opposition, to lead and be a champion for an aggressive bio-economy strategy,” Simpson said. “The government has several reports sitting in front of them outlining progressive strategies, but they haven’t acted on them.”

5. Do not rebuild the Babine Forest Products mill. “From everything I’ve seen and heard, that mill cannot be rebuilt without sacrificing forest health and putting other communities at risk,” said Simpson. The report and background documents indicate that half of the fibre that Hampton needs to rebuild is not currently available and must be sourced from marginal volume stands, old growth management areas, and areas set aside for Visual Quality Objectives.

Simpson noted there were some positives in the report, including a clear synopsis of the concerns heard throughout the consultation process, and a commitment to re-inventory BC’s forests.

The Independent MLA for Cariboo North noted that John Rustad, Chair of the Committee, has acknowledged that a 20 per cent drop in mature timber over the next few years will potentially mean supply shortages for eight other mills in the region.

“The bottom line, and the Committee report confirms this, is that we’re going to see a dramatic timber reduction in the near term,” said Simpson. “Up to this point the government’s mountain pine beetle strategy has been to log as much as possible. This report essentially recommends continuing on that path in order to support the status quo. What we need instead is a bold, long-term provincial forest strategy that takes into account climate change and a changing economy. Unfortunately, you won’t find it in this report.”

The FFESC’s report is available here: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/HFP/external/!publish/Web/FFESC/reports/FFESCsynthesisJune7.docx

The Bio-Economy Committee report is available here: https://www.gov.bc.ca/jti/down/bio_economy_report_final.pdf

Ancient Forest Alliance

Campaign for a $40 million per year BC Park Acquisition Fund Launched

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This week the Ancient Forest Alliance has launched a campaign, including a new petition at www.BCParkFund.com, the distribution of 50,000 new brochures (see https://www.bcparkfund.com/newsletter/June-2012-Parks-Acquisition.pdf) into key communities, and outreach to other conservation and recreation groups, calling on the BC Liberal government to establish a dedicated “BC Park Acquisition Fund” of at least $40 million per year. The fund would raise $400 million over 10 years, enabling the timely purchase of significant tracts of endangered private lands of high conservation, scenic, and recreation value to add to BC’s parks and protected areas system.

“While private land trusts are vital for conservation, they simply don’t have the capacity to quickly raise the tens of millions of dollars needed each year to protect enough endangered lands within the short time spans many areas have left to exist – only governments have such funds,” stated Ken Wu, executive director of the Victoria-based Ancient Forest Alliance (www.ancientforestalliance.org).

In years past, the BC government has designated funds for new park acquisition in the provincial budget; however, the funds have been inconsistent and simply too small.

“While $40 million might sound like a lot, let’s remember that it is only 1/1000th or 0.1% of the $40 billion provincial budget. Surely we can afford to invest 0.1% of the provincial budget to protect our endangered species and invest in BC’s scenic and recreational assets?” Wu asked.

Across British Columbia many of the most endangered ecosystems are found on private lands. These include the Coastal Douglas-fir and Dry Maritime forests on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, with their Mediterranean-like climates, twisted arbutus trees on rocky outcrops, and extremely scarce ancient groves; dry ecosystems of BC’s southern interior, including the fragrant Ponderosa Pine forests, sage-filled grasslands, and semi-arid “pocket desert”; waterfowl-filled wetlands and rich deciduous forests in the Fraser Valley and along our largest rivers; and other magnificent but endangered ecosystems threatened with encroaching developments.

These private lands are jam-packed with endangered species. They are also usually found closest to BC’s main population centers, making them highly accessible locations for environmental education and nature tourism. As such, they are potentially the highest-value additions to BC’s world-class parks and protected areas system.

Several of the most endangered old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast survive on the hundreds of thousands of hectares of private corporate lands owned by Island Timberlands and until recently, TimberWest, who sold their BC lands in 2011 to two public sector pension funds managed by the BC Investment Corporation (BCIMC) and the federal Public Sector Investment Management Board (PSIMB). Old-growth forests are vital for supporting endangered species, tourism, the climate, clean water and salmon, and many First Nations cultures.

Island Timberlands in particular in 2012 is aggressively moving to log many of its lands with the highest conservation and recreational values. Conservationists are calling on the company to back off from such plans, while at the same time calling on the BC government to help purchase the companies’ contentious private lands.

Earlier this week a meeting between Cortes Island residents and Island Timberlands representatives resulted in a deadlock in negotiations due to fundamental disagreements about the company’s logging plans that might start as soon as this September. See: https://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/earthmatters/no-negotiation-progress-island-timberlands%E2%80%99-plans-log-cortes-island-forests

Contentious old-growth and mature forests (see spectacular PHOTOS in each link) that are threatened by Island Timberlands on their private lands include:

  • About 1000 hectares of forest on Cortes Island (PHOTOS)
  • McLaughlin Ridge near Port Alberni (PHOTOS)
  • The Cameron Valley Firebreak near Port Alberni (PHOTOS)
  • Lands near Cathedral Grove (Macmillan Provincial Park), including the magnificent Cathedral Grove Canyon a few kilometres upstream near Port Alberni (PHOTOS)
  • Stillwater Bluffs near Powell River on the Sunshine Coast (PHOTOS)
  • The Day Road Forest near Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast (PHOTOS)

Contentious forests on former TimberWest lands, now owned by the BCIMC and the PSIMB, include:

  • Mossy Maple Grove or “Fangorn Forest” near Cowichan Lake (PHOTOS)
  • Koksilah Ancient Forest near Shawnigan Lake (PHOTOS)
  • Muir Creek Ancient Forest near Sooke (no photos available yet)

Park acquisition funds already exist on a smaller scale in several Regional Districts in BC, including the Capital Regional District (CRD) in the Greater Victoria region which has a Land Acquisition Fund of about $3.5 million each year. The CRD has spent over $34 million dollars since the year 2000 to purchase over 4500 hectares, including lands at Jordan River, the Sooke Hills, the Sooke Potholes, Thetis Lake, Mount Work, and Mount Maxwell on Salt Spring Island, to expand their system of Regional Parks.

“Studies have shown that for every $1 spent by the BC government on our parks system, another $9 in tourism revenues is generated in the provincial economy,” stated TJ Watt, campaigner and photographer with the AFA. “What better investment can we make than to spend a very modest sum each year to protect Beautiful British Columbia? A BC Park Acquisition Fund would be a win-win for everyone.”