Boardwalk in the Upper Avatar Grove

New Photo Gallery and Time-Lapse of Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction!

Over the September long weekend, AFA’s TJ Watt and a small group of dedicated volunteers worked hard to construct a crucial new section of the boardwalk at Avatar Grove.

Photos:  https://on.fb.me/1UA4yMo
Time-lapse video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez0xdSy2xEE

In the Upper Grove, the steep slope leading down to the creek had become quite rough and slippery, so to help protect the tree roots and make it safer for everyone visiting, the group built two new platforms and sets of stairs leading down the hill. It was challenging work to say the least and lasted until nearly dark each day! The only thing left to do in that section now is add a railing on the bottom deck and stairs. 

The team also installed a beautiful bench near the Gnarly Tree so that visitors can take a break and enjoy the view at the top of the trail.

A huge thanks goes out to volunteers Scott and Nitya, Matthew and Tyrell, Max, and Sean for their long hours and excellent help. A thanks goes out as well to Slegg Lumber for providing a discount on our building supplies and to Port Renfrew Marina for hosting our camp and materials.

There’s still more work to be done though in a few sections of the trail at Avatar Grove this year – to donate towards the project ($100 sponsors 1 metre of boardwalk) please visit this link: https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/avatar-grove-boardwalk-now-completed-and-open/ We’re very grateful for those of you who already have donated!!

Also, if you have some basic carpentry skills (the more the better!) and would like to volunteer in the future, please email TJ at info@staging.ancientforestalliance.org. We hope you enjoy the latest upgrades!

PHOTO GALLERY: Central Walbran Ancient Forest – Block 4403

Here are some fantastic images from part of the endangered Central Walbran Ancient Forest shot in early July by AFA's TJ Watt. The pictures were taken in the '4403' cutblock proposed by Teal-Jones (see map in gallery) just a few hundred metres from where people camp. This section of forest contains some absolutely incredible old-growth redcedar trees as well as some sensitive limestone karst features. Volunteers from the Friends of Carmanah Walbran have flagged a Witness Route into this area marked with yellow flagging tape making it easier to access now.

Please take 30 seconds to send a letter to the BC government asking them to protect the endangered Central Walbran and Edinburgh Mt Ancient Forests here: www.BCForestMovement.com  Thank you!!

PHOTOGALLERY at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.886074168153838.1073741889.823970554364200&type=3

Ancient Forest Alliance's (AFA) Jackie Korn stands amongst incredible old-growth redcedar trees in proposed cutblock 4412 in the Central Walbran Ancient Forest.

PHOTO GALLERY: Central Walbran & Edinburgh Mountain Ancient Forest

Surrey-based forestry company, the Teal-Jones Group, is aggressively moving forward with plans to log and build roads into Canada’s two most magnificent old-growth forests, the Central Walbran Ancient Forest (about 500 hectares) and the Edinburgh Mountain Ancient Forest (about 1500 hectares) on southern Vancouver Island. The company is planning eight new cutblocks (clearcuts) and a new road in the Central Walbran, and two new cutblocks and a new road on Edinburgh Mountain. The Walbran Valley is home to perhaps Canada’s finest stand of old-growth redcedars, the Castle Grove, while Edinburgh Mountain is where “Big Lonely Doug” (discovered last year by Ancient Forest Alliance activists to be Canada’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir tree – alas, completely surrounded by a 2012 clearcut) still stands and where the threatened “Christy Clark Grove” (ie. Lower Edinburgh Grove) is located in the Gordon River Valley.

Here are some photos and maps by the AFA's TJ Watt, from a recent July 2015 visit to these areas:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.877459535681968.1073741888.823970554364200&type=3

2014 Avatar Grove Boardwalk Progress and Photo Galleries

The Ancient Forest Alliance has nearly completed the preliminary phase of boardwalk construction at the Avatar Grove in essential areas such as the steep and slippery slopes, the roots around the biggest trees, and over creeks and other obstacles. More upgrades can still be done in the future but the toughest parts are almost compete. A big thanks goes out to our volunteers and donors! Fundraising for the boardwalk project will continue as we still have more work to complete in the new year.
 
To donate towards the boardwalk please visit: https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/avatar-grove-boardwalk-now-completed-and-open/ $100 helps to build 1 metre of boardwalk and you’ll receive a thank-you certificate with your name on it!
 
 
Volunteers this summer worked tirelessly to complete many things including two sets of much-needed steps up the slope towards the Gnarly Tree; many gravel steps leading into the Lower Grove; a bidge over the creek in the Upper Grove; various platforms and steps over obstacles in the Lower Grove; adding metal traction to the boardwalk surface; blocking off old trails and edging the path with logs; and more!! All of this work will help to protect the forest's delicate understory from excessive trampling, improve visitor access and safety, and help support the local economy of Port Renfrew and the Pacheedaht First Nation Band through eco-tourism.
 
A big thanks goes out to all the volunteers who have helped out so far; to the generous donors who have supported the boardwalk project; to Slegg Lumber for providing a discounted rate on many tools and supplies; and to the Port Renfrew Marina for allowing us use of their facilities. 
 
If you would like to help out with future boardwalk events, please send an email with your availability, any related experience or special skills, and physical limitations we should be aware of, to Avatar Boardwalk coordinator TJ Watt at: info@staging.ancientforestalliance.org Volunteers must be able to follow instructions accurately, be in good physical condition to do the work, and act safely, responsibly and respectfully without exception.

New PHOTO GALLERIES of Avatar Grove Boardwalk progress in 2014

The Ancient Forest Alliance and teams of dedicated volunteers have made some signigicant progress on the construction of the boardwalk at Avatar Grove this summer. A big thanks goes to those who've come out to help and to everyone who's donated towards the project!

See photos of July's work here: https://on.fb.me/1ocTApr 

See photos of August's work here: https://on.fb.me/1C0NIKG

Some of the latest additions include a beautiful new sign post at the trailhead; a much-needed bridge over the creek in the Upper Grove; a big section of stairs and platforms leading up the slope to the Gnarly Tree; new sections of landscape steps; extended bridges and platforms; and many other things!

Help us reach our $12,000 fundraising goal to complete the boardwalk this year! 

$100 sponsors 1 metre of boardwalk and you will receive a thank you certificate with your name or a friend's name if it's a gift!

  1. Donate securely online: https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/avatar-grove-boardwalk-now-completed-and-open/
  2. By phone: 250-896-4007
  3. By Mail: Victoria Main PO, Box 8459, Victoria, BC V8W 3S1, Canada

If you would like to help out, please send an email with your availability, any related experience or special skills, and physical limitations we should be aware of, to Avatar Boardwalk coordinator TJ Watt at: info@staging.ancientforestalliance.org Volunteers must be able to follow instructions accurately, be in good physical condition to do the work, and act safely, responsibly and respectfully without exception. Activities may include carrying heavy boardwalk planks, bucketing gravel, using hand tools, digging soil, moving rocks, etc. as well as having fun!

PHOTO GALLERY: Kwakiutl First Nation Protest Island Timberlands Logging

A week ago, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigners Ken Wu, TJ Watt, and Hannah Carpendale were in Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, where the Kwakiutl First Nation Band is currently protesting Island Timberlands' logging operations near their reserve. They invited us to meet community members, document the logging and protest, and support their efforts. Here are some photos of the old-growth redcedars, some of them 700 years old, that Island Timberlands recently cut which the Kwakiutl are preventing them from hauling off, and of the protest. Currently the Kwakiutl leadership are in discussions with the company while the protest continues. • Photos by TJ Watt.

Link to gallery: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.722284207804436.1073741849.100000685892458&type=1&l=08ba57d909


 

The magical Fairholm Maple - possibly the biggest maple tree in the world!

PHOTO GALLERY: Olympic National Park Trip 2013

 
We just got back from a trip to the astoundingly majestic and mossy temperate rainforests of the Olympic National Park in Washington state, where the Ancient Forest Alliance's photographer, TJ Watt, has taken hundreds of phenomenal photos! Here are some of the highlights. Three million tourists come to see the giant trees in this park every year. Here at home the BC government has done virtually nothing to protect and promote our ancient forest heritage where some of the biggest trees on Earth grow on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland. We need to push the BC government to ensure green businesses and jobs based on sensitive old-growth eco-tourism, value-added ,sustainable second-growth forestry, non-timber forest products, and a diversified low carbon economy.

See the public photo gallery here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.590174211015437.1073741835.100000685892458&type=1&l=2cd645e7aa

A collage of images featuring various sections of the Avatar Grove boardwalk completed over the May Long Weekend.

PHOTO GALLERY: Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction Begins

AVATAR GROVE BOARDWALK CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN — SUPPORT NEEDED DONATE.

It has begun! Over the May Long Weekend, construction began on the initial phase of the Avatar Grove Boardwalk! As thousands of visitors continue to flock to see the Avatar Grove, the boardwalk is needed to protect its ecological integrity, ensure visitor safety, and help promote eco-tourism for the Pacheedaht First Nations and the town of Port Renfrew to see the economic benefits of keeping one of the last old-growth forests in their region standing.

After working for a year to get the requisite permissions, engaging in numerous discussions with the Ministry of Forests, Pacheedaht First Nation band, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, and various partners, and securing the needed materials, construction finally began a couple weeks ago. The project’s start was given a major boost with volunteer help coming from the Hawkeye Tribe Men’s Team “Grunt”. The “Grunt” saw 35 skilled and dedicated men come together with the AFA’s TJ Watt to help build this community project and by doing so, we were able to complete a large amount of work in some of the most challenging sections. Both entrances have been improved, including a bridge and stairs that now lead into the Upper Grove thus removing the steep ditch climb, various bridges have been added in muddy sections, and the first viewing platform has been built near the Gnarly Tree.We must give a huge thanks to the Pacheedaht First Nation who generously milled and donated the timber for the project! We also thank the Port Renfrew Marina for hosting the camp for the volunteer team, all the volunteers themselves for their tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, to Slegg Lumber for donating many of the hardgoods needed, and Tim and Jon Cash of Soule Creek Lodge for cooking Saturday night’s incredible feast!

There is still more work to be done but we’re off to a great start! Construction will continue in stints for several weeks, led by the Ancient Forest Alliance’s TJ Watt. Watch for opportunities to volunteer in the coming summer months!
Avatar Grove is a spectacular stand of monumental, lowland old-growth redcedars – some with fantastic shapes – only a 15 minute drive from Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island in the traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation. In early 2012, after an extensive public awareness and mobilization campaign for several years, the Ancient Forest Alliance succeeded in convincing the BC government to protect the Avatar Grove from logging through a new Old-Growth Management Area (OGMA).Please help this important conservation project succeed by making a DONATION of any amount!

For $100 you can FUND a 1 METRE section of boardwalk in the Avatar Grove, but any amount helps. You can also make a Gift Donation for the boardwalk on behalf of a friend or loved one. DONATE.

AFA photographer TJ Watt stands beside two large old-growth Douglas-fir trees in the Children's Forest along James Creek on Cortes Island.

NEW PHOTO GALLERY featuring Cortes Island’s endangered forests!

 

Follow the link here to see the new images: https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/photos-media/

Cortes Island, a northern Gulf Island between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, is home to some of the last 1% of old-growth Douglas fir groves within the endangered “Dry Maritime” forests along BC’s southern coast. These are some of the most extensive remaining stands and are owned by corporate logging giant Island Timberlands.

Local residents are staunchly opposed to the planned industrial logging of these ancient and mature forests and other sensitive ecosystems. The protection of these forests will take a willingness of Island Timberlands to sell their lands at a fair market value – not at an overinflated price – and for various levels of government (particularly the provincial government) and other organizations and individuals to provide the funds.

For lands not purchased for protection, the company must conduct its forestry operation in line with community eco-forestry values and standards. Ultimately stronger private managed forest land regulations are needed in BC.

Support the Cortes Island activists at: wildstands.wordpress.com
Sign the Ancient Forest Alliance’s petition to protect BC’s old-growth forests and to ban raw log exports at: staging.ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/