Best of 2023 — AFA’s top photos, videos, news & campaigns!

As 2023 comes to a close, we want to extend our deepest thanks to you for helping us achieve so much this year. We’re seeing some of the most significant progress towards nature conservation in Canadian history with the potential to keep ancient forests standing for generations to come. Read on to see our highlights from 2023, and if you’re able, please make a tax-deductible donation to help us keep the momentum going in 2024! Thank you!

Top 5 Campaign Highlights of 2023

1. Over one billion dollars announced for nature conservation in BC through the BC Nature Agreement.

We always joked that if we had a billion dollars, we could finally see ancient forests get the protection they deserve. Well, in November, that funding arrived! This is the largest provincial funding package in Canadian history for nature conservation and will be vital to support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives and deal with all the various costs of establishing new protected areas, particularly in contested landscapes. What a major victory!

2. $300-million conservation financing fund launched by the province.

We did it! After more than five years of campaigning for this specific goal, in November, the province launched its $300 million conservation financing fund to help protect old-growth forests through the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas while supporting sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging. We probably asked you to send a message calling for conservation financing about 300 million times, but our collective efforts truly paid off!

3. $100-million BC Old-Growth Fund launched to save the most at-risk old-growth forests.

Thanks to the work of MP Patrick Weiler, this federal-provincial funding pot (set to increase to at least $164 million) is now available to help protect anywhere from 400,000 hectares to 1.3 million hectares of the grandest, rarest, and oldest stands in the Coastal and Inland Rainforests and the Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone. These areas include the spectacular forests you see in all of our photos! What an incredible leap forward!

4. Premier David Eby commits to protecting 30% of lands in BC by 2030.

The year started strong shortly after this commitment was made by Premier David Eby, which will double the current extent of legislated protected areas across BC (an additional area of about four times the size of Vancouver Island). It took over a century to get to the first 15%, now we’re set to double that in just seven years!

5. Draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework is released.

2023 ended with the BC government releasing its draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, which, if done correctly, will open the door for a major paradigm shift in conservation: prioritizing saving the most endangered ecosystems via “ecosystem-based targets”. The draft framework aims to prioritize ecological values above timber extraction and other industrial activity across all ministries. It’s incredible to see this language being used when compared to where we were five years ago! Stay tuned for calls to action on this piece soon.

Ancient Forest Alliance photographer & campaigner, TJ Watt, beside an enormous old-growth Sitka spruce growing unprotected west of Lake Cowichan in Ditidaht territory.

Ancient Forest Alliance photographer & campaigner, TJ Watt, beside an enormous old-growth Sitka spruce growing unprotected west of Lake Cowichan in Ditidaht territory.

Biggest News Stories of 2023

This year we were once again able to garner multiple international news stories, twice making the top story on Apple News! Here are a few of the year’s top stories below.

1. The Washington Post — ‘Freak of Nature’ is the find of a lifetime for forest explorer

2. The Guardian — Canada: images of felled ancient tree a ‘gut-punch’, old-growth experts say

3. The Independent UK — Rare tree hunter in Canada finds ‘freak of nature’ 1,000-year-old cedar

4. Canadian Press — Poor data hinders BC old-growth logging deferrals, advocates say

5. CHEK News — BC signs ‘historic’ $1B agreement to protect lands and waters

Thanks to your generous support, we continue to embark on field expeditions to explore and document the beauty and destruction of endangered old-growth forests in BC, which often results in the coverage you see here.

Top 3 Photos of 2023

Professional photography continues to be one of our greatest communication tools. Below are three of TJ’s photos that gained the most attention this year!

A man in a red jacket stands in front of a massive ancient redcedar.

The most impressive tree in Canada.
Flores Island cedar, Ahousaht territory.

A man in a blue jacket who is 6'4" stands beside a towering Sitka spruce. The spruce is lit up by a torch at its base and stands against a background of other dark green trees and a magnificent starry sky.

The largest spruce in Canada, San Jo’s Smiley.
Northern Vancouver Island, Quatsino territory.

A man in a red jacket lays on a monumental western redcedar among hundreds of other fallen old-growth trees in a clearcut on northern Vancouver Island.

Fallen giants.
Northern Vancouver Island, Quatsino territory.

Our Favourite Video of 2023

Bringing ancient forests to life through video is one of our favourite ways to share our explorations with you. This spectacular video showcases the most impressive tree in Canada growing on Flores Island in Ahousaht territory!

Supporting Indigenous-led Old-Growth Protection

Together with our partners Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Nature-Based Solutions Foundation, Ancient Forest Alliance continued its support for two exciting Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area proposals.

We have partnered with the Kanaka Bar Indian Band in the Fraser Canyon to help support their T’eqt’aqtn Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) which will protect some of the most diverse old-growth ecosystems found anywhere in BC, including 42 species at risk.

We have also partnered with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in Gold River to support their incredible Salmon Parks Initiative, which is now backed by a $15.2-million commitment from the federal government!

These Indigenous-led conservation initiatives will eventually see over 43,000 hectares (430 km2) of combined old growth protected — an area about four times the size of Vancouver!

We’ll continue to expand our efforts with other key First Nations in 2024.

A man in a yellow jacket stands beside a massive Douglas-fir tree in an ancient Douglas-fir grove.

Old-growth Douglas-fir forest in the Burman River valley. Proposed Salmon Park, Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory.

On top of what was one of the most action-packed years in the history of our organization, we also received charitable status this year! If you’re inspired by the progress you see above, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us launch into 2024.

A sincere thank you to all those who contacted decision-makers, donated, organized a fundraiser, purchased AFA gear, met with your elected representatives, signed a resolution, shared our photos and news articles, or simply cheered us on. British Columbians and people from across the globe continue to demonstrate that they will stand up for the protection of endangered old-growth forests. Collectively, we are changing the world.

We can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in 2024!

For the forests,
The Ancient Forest Alliance team

 

(L-R) Nadia Sheptycki (Victoria Canvass Director), Joan Varley (Administrative Director), TJ Watt (Campaigner & Photographer), Kristen Bounds (Communications Coordinator), Coral Forbes (Donor Relations & Administrative Associate) and Ian Thomas (Research & Engagement Officer)

Thanks for the support at our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

Thanks to all who attended and/or supported our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

We’re feeling extremely grateful following our event this past Tuesday evening, where you helped us raise $5,284 for old-growth protection through donations, the silent auction, and merchandise sales! We hope you enjoyed the engaging presentations, food, drinks, and socializing with other old-growth fans.

As always, meeting and having conversations with many of you in person is a great reminder of what a dedicated, passionate, and kind community we have standing with us. We couldn’t have achieved all the latest success without you!

A special shoutout goes to the local businesses and individuals who kindly donated items to our silent auction. Thank you to: Jordan Fritz Art, Botanical Bliss, Fish Hair Salon, Handsome Dans Port Renfrew, Pilgrim Coffee House, Lorelei Green Art, Timothy Colman, Zula Jewelry, The Papery, Smoking Lily Handcrafted Goods, Seaflora Skincare, Spinnacle Yarns, Russell Books, Wild Coast Perfumery, Richard Malacek, Robinson’s Outdoors, Patagonia Victoria, Ecologyst, Bolen Books, and Barbara Brown Art.

Your support this season will make a huge difference and will ensure we’re able to hit the ground running come 2024.

For the forests,
The Ancient Forest Alliance team

 

A lightened photo of a snowy old-growth forest with the words "Giving Tuesday" overlaid.

Support ancient forests this Giving Tuesday!

Year after year, we’re so grateful to our community of supporters who choose to donate to the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA). Giving Tuesday (a global day where people give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity) is just a week away on November 28th. Consider supporting old-growth forest protection as part of our Giving Tuesday campaign, running from Tuesday, November 21 until Friday, December 1, 2023!

Will you help us reach our goal of $20,000?

Yes! I’ll donate!

Because of YOUR support, we’ve seen more significant shifts over the past couple of months than we’ve seen in years toward the protection of old-growth forests in BC. Many of our asks have been answered and much of the funding we’ve been calling for has arrived!

More than $1 billion in provincial-federal funding has been allocated to help achieve BC’s 30% by 2030 nature protection, conservation, and restoration goals with the launch of the BC Nature Agreement. Securing large-scale conservation financing has been a central focus of our organization for many years now and we’re thrilled to see this arrive! Following on its heels, the BC government released its draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework that, if done right, could ensure a major paradigm shift to safeguard the most endangered and least protected ecosystems, such as big-treed old-growth forests. Together, these have the potential to protect much of the incredible ancient forests we’ve been fighting for!

This huge progress has been made possible by people like you who’ve spoken up and supported our campaign efforts over the years, so THANK YOU!

With Giving Tuesday coming up in just one week on November 28th, here are two ways you can support AFA this year.

1. Give a monthly or one-time donation to the Ancient Forest Alliance

As a small charitable organization, our work is driven by donations from individuals like you. By making a monthly or one-time donation, you’ll help us carry out critical work including supporting First Nations partners in developing Indigenous Protected Area proposals that protect old-growth, exploring and documenting endangered forests, and building and strengthening relationships with non-traditional allies to create a broad-based movement of support for ancient forest protection. We acknowledge times are challenging for many right now, so any amount helps. Plus, all donations are now tax-deductible!

Give to ancient forests here!

2. Join us for our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

This year we’ll be celebrating our successes on Giving Tuesday itself! We’d love to see you at Victoria Event Centre on Tuesday, November 28th from 6–9 pm for a fun-filled evening to celebrate a monumental year for the old-growth campaign.

This is a night for our supporters to get to know the AFA team, connect with other supporters, donors, and volunteers, and enjoy a presentation from AFA campaigner and photographer TJ Watt and researcher Ian Thomas.

There will be a silent auction with loads of fabulous items from local businesses such as Robinson’s Outdoors, Botanical Bliss, Patagonia, ecologyst, The Papery, Bolen Books, Barbara Brown Art, Seaflora Skincare, Jordan Fritz Art, and more. There will also be appies and refreshments, a cash bar, and AFA merchandise for sale, so don’t miss out! All funds raised go toward protecting the endangered old-growth forests in BC and ensuring a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

Thank you for spreading your generosity to ancient forests this Giving Tuesday. Together, we can give back to the ancient forests that give so much to us.

Save The Date! AFA’s Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser is Tuesday, November 28th

Mark your calendars! We’re excited to announce that we’ll be hosting our Year-End Celebration and Fundraiser on Giving Tuesday this year. Join us at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St) on Tuesday, November 28th, 6–9 pm for a fun-filled evening to celebrate a monumental year for the old-growth campaign.

This is a night for our supporters to get to know the AFA team, connect with other supporters, donors, and volunteers, and enjoy a presentation from AFA campaigner & photographer TJ Watt and researcher Ian Thomas.

There will be a silent auction with loads of fabulous items from local businesses such as Robinson’s Outdoors, Botanical Bliss, Patagonia, ecologyst, The Papery, Bolen Books, Barbara Brown Art, Seaflora Skincare, and more. There will also be appies and refreshments, a cash bar, and AFA merchandise for sale, so don’t miss out!

All funds raised go toward protecting the endangered old-growth forests in BC and ensuring a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

Schedule:
5:45: Doors open, refreshments & socializing
6:30: Slideshow presentation by Campaigner & Photographer, TJ Watt and Research & Engagement Officer, Ian Thomas
7:45: Meet and greet, and fantastic silent auction fundraiser featuring select prints from TJ as well as an array of other amazing items from local businesses
8:45: Silent auction winners announced
9:00: Wrap up

Tickets:
Fixed price of $10 (not tax deductible). Available online (until NOON on November 28th), at the door, or call us at 250-896-4007. If there are any financial barriers to attending, please contact us at info@staging.ancientforestalliance.org or call 250-896-4007. Tax-deductible donations can be added to cart at checkout!

Save the date in your calendars and scoop up your tickets today!

Accessibility:
The Victoria Event Centre currently does have an operational elevator or there is one long flight of stairs at the venue entrance. If you would like to attend the event but require assistance accessing the space, please contact us ahead of the event and/or text or call Joan at 250-213-1674 when you arrive and we will direct you.

We respectfully acknowledge that this event is taking place on the unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

AFA is Now a Registered Charity!

We’re elated to announce that Ancient Forest Alliance is officially a registered charity!

When Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) was originally founded as a non-profit society in 2010 by Ken Wu and TJ Watt, we chose to forgo charitable status as laws at the time would have constrained our freedom of speech and critical advocacy work, limiting the effectiveness of the organization.

However, changes in legislation since then mean that we’re now able to become a charity while remaining as effective as before, except with the added bonus that we can now issue tax receipts for donations!

We know that every dollar counts these days and we hope that this new milestone will make it easier to support us as we lead the push to protect endangered old-growth forests in BC. We thank the many thousands of you who have supported us right from our humble beginnings.

Make a tax-deductible donation today!

And, thanks to 13 years of relentless pressure fueled by your generous support, our campaign efforts are paying off.

The BC government is currently developing a number of new policies that have the potential to vastly expand the protection of old-growth forests and other endangered ecosystems in BC. Many of these, such as the commitment to create a conservation financing fund, are a direct result of AFA’s work.

It’s still possible that the BC government’s promised paradigm shift could fall short of its full potential though as some old-school timber bureaucrats and politicians try to constrain change in favour of the destructive status quo. That is why we still need your help at this most critical time.

Still needed from the province is funding for First Nations’ sustainable economic development linked to new protected areas, developing protection targets for all ecosystems, and maintaining strong protected areas standards.

These measures will ensure that the most endangered ecosystems are protected while sustainable, conservation-based economies are established that support prosperous communities and vibrant cultures.

We will get there with your support!

All Donations Made in 2023 are Tax Deductible!

Our charitable status (charity #82123 3657 RR0001) came into effect this summer, however, all donations made to AFA in 2023 will receive a tax deduction receipt, so if you donated from January 1, 2023 onward, your receipts will be consolidated and distributed by early 2024. In order to stay as paper-free as possible, please ensure we have your updated email address. Please note that AFA merchandise is not tax-deductible.

Ancient Forest Alliance relies on the generosity of our community in order to carry out our most important work and we’re incredibly grateful to the broad base of individuals, businesses, and organizations who have chosen to contribute to the cause since our inception.

From securing the protection of Avatar Grove in 2012 to bringing about the major changes in forest policy and protection we see on the horizon, we’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together. Thank you most gratefully.

For the forests,

The Ancient Forest Alliance team

(left to right) Nadia Sheptycki, Joan Varley, TJ Watt, Kristen Bounds, Coral Forbes, and Ian Thomas

San Jo’s Smiley, Canada’s Largest Sitka Spruce Tree

Canada’s largest Sitka spruce tree stretches toward the night sky as a full moon rises over northern Vancouver Island. Located near the San Josef River outside of Holberg in Quatsino territory, the San Josef Spruce, aka “San Jo’s Smiley,” measures 255 ft (77.8 m) tall and 14.3 ft (4.36 m) in diameter. Standing at the base of the tree is akin to being a bug beside the foot of a giant elephant (Ian pictured here is 6’4 for scale). Apart from the region’s high annual rainfall and relatively mild year-round climate, the tree in part owes its monumental size to the limestone or ‘karst’ substrate it grows on. Karst ecosystems are commonly more productive than similar forest sites growing on different kinds of bedrock (such as granite), due to the well-drained soils and nutrient cycling associated with limestone.

Sadly, the forests that would have once supported the growth of the very biggest trees in the country have now been reduced to single-digit percentage points after more than a century of overcutting, with the fragile karst forests being especially hard-hit. This particular tree grows on private lands managed by Western Forest Products and currently has no legal protection (though the company has a voluntary big tree policy that should leave it standing). A significant portion of the surrounding old-growth forest was cut in 2012 though, fragmenting what would have been one of the most impressive remaining stands of monumental Sitka spruce in BC. And given that these trees and forests can take upwards of a millennium or more to grow, we get one chance and one chance only to keep them standing. The small town of Port Renfrew on the coast of southern Vancouver Island is a great example of how big tree tourism can majorly bolster the local economy, providing a path for other coastal communities to follow.

So, take a moment to reflect on the significance of our forest friends and send an instant message calling for their protection.

Photo of Canada’s largest spruce tree by AFA’s TJ Watt, using a Canon 5D MKIV, with a 15mm fisheye, 30-second exposure, headlamp + moonlight, and a little bit of magic.

A man in a blue jacket who is 6'4" stands beside a towering Sitka spruce. The spruce is lit up by a torch at its base and stands against a background of other dark green trees and a magnificent starry sky.

AFA’s Ian Thomas (who is 6’4″!) stands beside Canada’s largest Sitka spruce — the San Josef Spruce.

Double your impact when supporting AFA until July 15th!

We’re grateful to announce that a generous supporter has offered to match donations made to the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000. This means for the next month when you donate to the AFA, your gift will have DOUBLE the impact!

Match My Gift

Together, we have the opportunity to raise $40,000+ toward the protection of endangered ancient forests in BC. This support will allow us to continue our most important work at this critical time, including activities such as:

  • Working with key First Nations partners to support Indigenous-led protected areas initiatives and sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging. Cost: $30,000
  • Exploring and documenting endangered ancient forests with professional photography and video. An important tactic for educating and mobilizing the public to speak up for old-growth forests and attracting international news coverage. Cost: $3,000
  • Completing 2023 mapping on the status of endangered old-growth forests on BC’s south coast. Cost: $2,000
  • Building and strengthening relationships with municipalities and non-traditional allies such as unions, chambers of commerce, faith groups, and tourism associations to build a broad-based movement of support for old-growth protection. Cost: $5,000

We’re at a pivotal point in the decades-long push to protect old-growth forests in BC. What happens in the next few years — even months — will determine the fate of these irreplaceable forests for generations to come.

That is why now is the most critical time to support our organization since our inception 13 years ago.

As a direct result of our advocacy and your support, the BC government has made a number of recent commitments toward increased old-growth conservation.

These include commitments to double the total protected area in BC from 15% to 30% by 2030 (much of which will happen sooner); creating a conservation financing mechanism that will support the protection of old-growth forests through the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs); and developing a BC Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework that should prioritize biodiversity and ecosystems in forestry and land-use decisions.

So far, however, there are still major provincial conservation funding gaps for both the short- and long-term protection of old-growth forests, and a lack of ecosystem-based targets set by science and informed by Traditional Knowledge Holders that prioritize the most at-risk areas for protection — critical components that AFA continues to push for every day.

Your donations keep the engine of old-growth protection running. Consider monthly giving as an even greater way to make an impact. Consistent, reliable support provides us with stable funding — allowing us to plan ahead and take on new projects that help advance the old-growth campaign.

Any new or increased monthly gifts during this time will be matched. If monthly donations aren’t financially feasible at the moment, we encourage you to give a one-time gift — any amount helps ensure the forests are left standing!

Progress is happening because we continue to fight for it. Please help us keep the momentum going.

Ways to Donate:

  • Securely via our online form here
  • By phoning 250-896-4007 (Mon-Fri)
  • Mailing a donation to: Ancient Forest Alliance, 205-620 View St Victoria, BC, V8W 1J6

Thank you for your support!

Happy Earth Day from the AFA!

Happy Earth Day from AFA! ?

The global theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet”. For years, the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and our supporters have been calling on the province to “invest in our planet” by committing significant funding toward the protection of endangered old-growth forests in BC through conservation financing.

This approach has already proven successful in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, where conservation financing has supported the creation of 123 Indigenous-led businesses, invested $122 million in local sustainable infrastructure, and diversified First Nations economies, all while creating over 1,200 jobs and infusing $63 million into local communities as salaries (see the recent Coast Funds report here).

The emergence of these conservation economies has allowed First Nations communities to transition away from resource-extractive industries like old-growth logging toward sustainable forms of employment and revenue. Additionally, these funding mechanisms provide the resources for Indigenous-led stewardship of their unceded territories.

Conservation Economy: A New Way Forward

Recent studies have shown there is greater economic value to endangered old-growth forests in BC when they’re left standing than when they’re cut down, as seen in our report on the Economic Value of Old-Growth Forests near Port Renfrew BC.

The concept of a “nature economy” is growing as well, which Global News explains in this new interactive article highlighting success stories, such as Indigenous tourism, and featuring a number of AFA photos and videos as well.

The Ancient Forest Alliance has been leading the years-long push to get the province to invest in protecting old-growth ecosystems, and we’re beginning to see the framework for success appear.

On the ground, AFA, alongside our partners at the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Nature-Based Solutions Foundation, are supporting Indigenous communities to protect approximately 355-square kilometers of highly-endangered old-growth forests through collaborations with the Kanaka Bar Indian Band to support their Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area proposal, and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation to support their Salmon Parks Initiative.

Under pressure, the BC government has now committed to creating a new conservation financing tool within the next six months that can be used to protect old-growth forests elsewhere in BC. However, thus far, the province has not allocated any of its own funding toward it.

We’re committed to doing everything in our power to invest in our planet and its old-growth ecosystems. But we can’t do it alone. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to the AFA or take one minute and send an instant message to the BC government calling on it to invest in our planet by providing funding for old-growth protection!

Earth Day is every day ?

2022 Holiday Office Closure

Hello Ancient Forest Friends! Please take note:

The AFA Office in Victoria will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 24th to Monday, Jan. 2nd. We will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3rd with regular business hours. Any AFA merchandise orders received during this time will be shipped on or after Wednesday, Jan. 4th.

Thank you for your support and wishing you a joyous holiday season!

Reminder! Deadlines for holiday orders are fast approaching!

Friendly reminder, if you’re planning on ordering gifts that support ancient forests this holiday season, please place your order by the following deadlines to increase your likelihood of receiving your gifts before Christmas Day (for orders in Canada only):

Dec 8th: Photo prints
Dec 12th: All other AFA gear
Dec 13th: Printed & mailed certificates
Dec 20th: Custom digital certificates

*Please note: Due to the busy shipping season, we can’t guarantee your orders will arrive before December 25th but always do our very best. Orders outside Canada will take longer to arrive

To make your order:

Every purchase helps us continue our work to protect endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

Thank you for your support!