Show your love for ancient forests this Valentine’s Day

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Looking for a sustainable gift idea this Valentine’s Day? Why not show your love for ancient forests AND those close to you by dedicating a donation to the AFA in honour of a loved one. Click here to visit our donation page, select ‘yes’ under Dedicate, write your personalized message, and voila! your Valentine’s Day gift will go towards protecting ancient forests. Please note: If you wish for your message to be received by Valentine’s Day, choose the email option.  Thank you for your generous support!

Goodbye to AFA’s Forest Campaigner, Andrea Inness.

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The Ancient Forest Alliance team wishes to thank Andrea Inness, who will be departing in early February after devoting five years as a Forest Campaigner with the AFA, including three and a half years on the Executive Team. With her strong work ethic, intelligence, advanced logistical skills, and sense of responsibility, Andrea helped lead the Ancient Forest Alliance to numerous campaign and organizational successes over these years.

Andrea Inness, Forest Campaigner for the AFA, 2017 – 2022.

Andrea was prolific in her work liaising with organizations, stakeholders, allies, and government, writing, speaking, researching, exploring old-growth forests, and working behind the scenes with internal organization management. Her professional skills, experience, and dedication helped pressure the provincial government to start moving towards comprehensive, meaningful protection for ancient forests in BC.

“I’m very proud of the work AFA has accomplished with the help of our many caring, passionate supporters. There is hope for the future of old-growth forests because we have refused to give up and have continued to expand and strengthen the ancient forest movement,” stated Andrea. “I’m grateful for my time at the AFA, for the opportunity to help protect the magnificent old-growth forests in BC, and for the people I’ve had the privilege of working with along the way.”

Andrea in the Nahmint Valley, 2018.

“I feel confident leaving AFA at this point in time. The campaign has entered a new chapter, with the province now listening to the best available science and committing to major policy changes. The organization is in good hands with both new staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table, and long-term and dedicated staff,” she concluded.

We are grateful to Andrea for all she has done for the AFA and the campaign to protect old-growth forests. We wish her every success in her next exciting chapter.

Andrea under a bracket fungus in the San Juan River Valley, 2018.



Planning to give AFA gifts this holiday season? Order soon!

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Friendly reminder, if you’re planning on ordering AFA gifts 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):

For our brand NEW custom digital certificates:
Place your orders until Dec. 20th.

For printed & mailed certificates:
Place your orders by Dec. 13th

For Prints:
Place your orders by Dec. 8th.

For all other AFA gear:
Place your orders by Dec. 13th

*Please note: Despite our best efforts, we can’t guarantee your orders will arrive before Christmas day.

To purchase AFA gifts:
Visit our online store
Call us at 250 896 4007
Book an appointment to visit our office
Give us a call at 250 896 4007 or email info@16.52.162.165

Proceeds help assist our work to protect endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

Thank you for considering the AFA as your priority organization to support this holiday season!

You’re invited to the AFA’s 2021 Virtual Year-End Update & Fundraiser!

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We’re hosting our virtual year-end update and fundraiser on Thursday, November 25, from 7-8 pm (PST) on Zoom. Join us to learn what we’ve been up to this past year and what’s next for old-growth forests in BC. Plus, you could win some fun prizes!

With the BC government’s latest old-growth deferral announcement, the release of our groundbreaking report on the economic value of standing ancient forests, a federal funding commitment for BC old-growth, and mounting public pressure on the province to act, 2021 has been an eventful year for the ancient forest campaign.

Tune in to hear more about these and other developments, learn what AFA is doing to ensure the BC government follows through on all its old-growth promises, and help us celebrate all we’ve achieved this past year together.

The evening will feature a slideshow presentation from AFA campaigners TJ Watt, Andrea Inness, and Ian Illuminato about where we’ve been in 2021 and what’s next for ancient forests in BC, a Q&A session on all things old-growth, the chance to connect with the AFA team, and some fun giveaways.

You’ll also learn how you can support our campaigns, including by purchasing some great AFA gear (which make excellent holiday gifts!).

Event schedule:

7:00pm presentation followed by Q&A

Tickets: By donation. Register here

A Zoom link to join the webinar will be sent in your confirmation and reminder emails. If you have an Eventbrite account, you can also access the link on your online event page.

Proceeds from the event will go towards AFA’s campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

We’re hosting our virtual year-end update and fundraiser on Thursday, November 25, from 7-8 pm (PST) on Zoom. Join us to learn what we’ve been up to this past year and what’s next for old-growth forests in BC. Plus, you could win some fun prizes!

With the BC government’s latest old-growth deferral announcement, the release of our groundbreaking report on the economic value of standing ancient forests, a federal funding commitment for BC old-growth, and mounting public pressure on the province to act, 2021 has been an eventful year for the ancient forest campaign.

Tune in to hear more about these and other developments, learn what AFA is doing to ensure the BC government follows through on all its old-growth promises, and help us celebrate all we’ve achieved this past year together.

The evening will feature a slideshow presentation from AFA campaigners TJ Watt, Andrea Inness, and Ian Illuminato about where we’ve been in 2021 and what’s next for ancient forests in BC, a Q&A session on all things old-growth, the chance to connect with the AFA team, and some fun giveaways.

You’ll also learn how you can support our campaigns, including by purchasing some great AFA gear (which make excellent holiday gifts!).

Event schedule:

7:00pm presentation followed by Q&A

Tickets: By donation. Register here

A Zoom link to join the webinar will be sent in your confirmation and reminder emails. If you have an Eventbrite account, you can also access the link on your online event page.

Proceeds from the event will go towards AFA’s campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

Register for the webinar

We’re hosting our virtual year-end update and fundraiser on Thursday, November 25, from 7-8 pm (PST) on Zoom. Join us to learn what we’ve been up to this past year and what’s next for old-growth forests in BC. Plus, you could win some fun prizes!

With the BC government’s latest old-growth deferral announcement, the release of our groundbreaking report on the economic value of standing ancient forests, a federal funding commitment for BC old-growth, and mounting public pressure on the province to act, 2021 has been an eventful year for the ancient forest campaign.

Tune in to hear more about these and other developments, learn what AFA is doing to ensure the BC government follows through on all its old-growth promises, and help us celebrate all we’ve achieved this past year together.

The evening will feature a slideshow presentation from AFA campaigners TJ Watt, Andrea Inness, and Ian Illuminato about where we’ve been in 2021 and what’s next for ancient forests in BC, a Q&A session on all things old-growth, the chance to connect with the AFA team, and some fun giveaways.

You’ll also learn how you can support our campaigns, including by purchasing some great AFA gear (which make excellent holiday gifts!).

Event schedule:

7:00pm presentation followed by Q&A

Tickets: By donation. Register here

A Zoom link to join the webinar will be sent in your confirmation and reminder emails. If you have an Eventbrite account, you can also access the link on your online event page.

Proceeds from the event will go towards AFA’s campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

We’re hosting our virtual year-end update and fundraiser on Thursday, November 25, from 7-8 pm (PST) on Zoom. Join us to learn what we’ve been up to this past year and what’s next for old-growth forests in BC. Plus, you could win some fun prizes!

With the BC government’s latest old-growth deferral announcement, the release of our groundbreaking report on the economic value of standing ancient forests, a federal funding commitment for BC old-growth, and mounting public pressure on the province to act, 2021 has been an eventful year for the ancient forest campaign.

Tune in to hear more about these and other developments, learn what AFA is doing to ensure the BC government follows through on all its old-growth promises, and help us celebrate all we’ve achieved this past year together.

The evening will feature a slideshow presentation from AFA campaigners TJ Watt, Andrea Inness, and Ian Illuminato about where we’ve been in 2021 and what’s next for ancient forests in BC, a Q&A session on all things old-growth, the chance to connect with the AFA team, and some fun giveaways.

You’ll also learn how you can support our campaigns, including by purchasing some great AFA gear (which make excellent holiday gifts!).

Event schedule:

7:00pm presentation followed by Q&A

Tickets: By donation. Register here

A Zoom link to join the webinar will be sent in your confirmation and reminder emails. If you have an Eventbrite account, you can also access the link on your online event page.

Proceeds from the event will go towards AFA’s campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

Register for the webinar

Federal Liberals and NDP make election promises to help fund protection of old-growth forests

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On August 21st, 2021, the federal Liberal Party made an election commitment to establish a $50 million BC Old Growth Nature Fund and develop a nature agreement with the province of British Columbia to protect more of BC’s old-growth forests and expand protected areas. 

The Liberals’ $50 million pledge is part of the $2.3 billion allocated in this year’s federal budget to expand protected areas across Canada over the next five years, which, among other programs, includes $340 million for Indigenous Protected Areas and Guardians Programs and $377 million for the protection of endangered species habitats.

Two days later, while on the campaign trail, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh pledged $500 million toward Indigenous-led stewardship programs to protect Canada’s lands, waters, and forests – including old-growth.

These funding commitments come at a critical time, as the last remnants of at-risk ancient forest continue to be liquidated across BC, British Columbians grow increasingly outraged by the lack of government action to protect at-risk forest ecosystems, and as police enforcement of Teal Jones’s injunction at the Fairy Creek blockades in Pacheedaht territory on Vancouver Island becomes increasingly violent.

For years, the AFA, the environmental community, scientists, First Nations leaders including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and the BC and federal Green Parties have been calling for significant funding to support First Nations-led old-growth conservation in BC, help communities and workers transition away from destructive old-growth logging, and create sustainable, conservation-based economies. 

While it’s unknown at this stage how much of the NDP’s promised $500 million will go to protecting old-growth forests in BC, the Liberals’ $50 million commitment doesn’t go far enough. 

But these funding pledges represent a start, which must be leveraged to access more federal funding from the incoming Canadian government, and must be matched – and exceeded – by the BC government, philanthropists, and the private sector to create approximately $600 million for old-growth protection.

Specifically, this funding must go to supporting:

  • Immediate deferrals while alleviating short-term economic pressures faced by First Nations communities;
  • Workers and communities to transition to a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry;
  • Sustainable economic development and diversification of First Nations communities; 
  • Long-term conservation solutions that prioritize the permanent protection of high productivity, carbon-rich forests that meet the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel’s and the Old Growth Technical Panel’s definition of “at-risk”.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC NDP to commit significant provincial funds in order to deliver on their promise to implement the Old Growth Panel’s 14 recommendations before it’s too late for remaining at-risk old-growth. 

All eyes are on BC Premier John Horgan – especially now that the federal NDP is stepping up to the plate with potential funding – to see whether he’ll keep his old-growth promises or condemn BC’s remaining ancient forest ecosystems to the chainsaw.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs passes a new resolution endorsing Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration

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The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has passed a resolution endorsing the Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration, which aims to unite First Nations around the need to protect ancient forests in BC. The declaration calls on the province to immediately halt logging in at-risk old-growth forests, implement the Old Growth Panel’s 14 recommendations, and advance Indigenous-led old-growth conservation.

The resolution comes on the heels of BC’s record-breaking heatwave and in the midst of intense wildfires, worsening climate change impacts, and mounting pressure on the province to address the destructive mismanagement and overharvesting of BC’s forests. 

“The Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration describes the critical relationship First Nations have with old growth forests and strengthens a sustainable, First Nations-led approach to old growth conservation that supports our ancestral laws and responsibilities.” – UBCIC president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.

Read the full press release

New economic report highlights need for funding to support Indigenous-led old-growth protection and sustainable economic development.

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The Ancient Forest Alliance has released a report that considers the economic implications of protecting old-growth forests when taking ecosystem services like carbon storage, recreation, tourism, salmon habitat, and other values into account.

The study, which took 2.5 years to complete, uses old-growth forests near Port Renfrew, in the territories of the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht First Nations, as a case study. 

The intention of this study was not to unilaterally determine how old-growth forests should be managed at a local scale. Rather, it considers many potential old-growth logging/protection scenarios to better understand what’s possible and explores the economic benefits and implications of those scenarios in order to provide a useful resource to inform land-use decision-making.

The BC government’s Old Growth Strategic Review Panel recommended the province develop local and provincial transition plans and support communities in transitioning their economies while pursuing science-based old-growth protection. We hope this study, which explores alternative uses and economic benefits of standing old-growth forests, can assist in that work.

The AFA’s mandate is to work within the law to advocate for policy change to protect endangered old-growth ecosystems, and to support First Nations and rural communities to find solutions that support ecological, economic, and community wellbeing.

We are calling for old-growth logging deferrals, upon the consent of First Nations, in the most at-risk old-growth ecosystems, as described by the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel, while long-term conservation solutions are found. 

We are also working to leverage provincial and federal funding to assist land-embedded communities, including First Nations, to undertake land-use planning, develop new protected areas (including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas), and support sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging.

Victoria City Council unanimously approves motion to endorse old-growth resolution

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Victoria City Council has unanimously approved a motion to call on the BC government to immediately defer logging in all at-risk old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and fund an economic transition away from old-growth logging! See the full resolution below. Kudos to Victoria Councillors Isitt, Loveday, and Dubow for putting the motion forward.

Caycuse before & after photos are the cover story of the latest British Columbia Magazine

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AFA photographer TJ Watt’s shocking before & after photos of old-growth logging by Teal-Jones in the Caycuse Valley are the cover story of the latest British Columbia Magazine. These impactful photos are helping to raise vast amounts of public awareness around the threats facing old-growth forests, inspiring thousands of new people to get involved in the campaign and hold politicians to account. Grab a copy to see the photo essay and write-up inside.

Thank you to Patagonia Victoria!

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We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Patagonia Victoria for generously donating $3,500 to the Ancient Forest Alliance! The donation is part of Patagonia Victoria’s commitment to the environment and to the 1% for the Planet program. We are enormously grateful for their continuous and outstanding support!