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Jane Morden by an Ancient Douglas-fir in the McLaughlin Ridge

Join the Friends of McLaughlin Ridge on Facebook!

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Port Alberni residents led by local activist Jane Morden are standing up to protect the endangered McLaughlin Ridge, a 500 hectare tract of ancient Douglas-fir forest near the town that biologists have classified as both critical habitat for wintering deer and endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks. The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC government to purchase the land from Island Timberlands.

‘Like’ the Protect McLaughlin Ridge page on Facebook and “share” with friends here: www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-McLaughlin-Ridge/171349489633596
Help us reach 100+ ‘likes’ by inviting your friends to the page too!

‘Write a Letter’ guide for McLaughlin Ridge: www.ancientforestalliance.org/news-item.php?ID=370
 

Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Hannah Carpendale stands amongst the giant old-growth Bigleaf maples in the un-protected Mossy Maple Grove.

Monday, Dec. 5th: SEE BC’s MOST UNIQUE OLD-GROWTH FOREST! AFA Photo Journey & Fundraiser

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DATE: Monday, Dec. 5th

TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm
LOCATION: Ambrosia Center, 638 Fisgard St. near Douglas St.

Ancient Forest Friends,

We are excited to finally share with you the latest, incredible old-growth stand that we’ve come across: the “MOSSY MAPLE RAINFOREST”!

This spectacular forest on Vancouver Island near Cowichan Lake includes the incredible “Mossy Maple Grove”, a…stand of enormous bigleaf maple trees – some as much as 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide – completely draped in hanging gardens of mosses and ferns.

Unlike other spotlighted old-growth forests in BC that have all been “coniferous” or needle-leaf trees (spruce, fir, cedar, etc.), this is an old-growth “deciduous” or broad-leaf rainforest. This area has also been nicknamed “Fangorn Forest” after the forest in The Lord of the Rings.

Please join us MONDAY, Dec. 5th  from 7-8:30pm at the Ambrosia Centre for the SLIDESHOW & FUNDRAISER and a chance to see un-released photos from a second area nearby, the “Mossy Maple Gallery”, as well as of the Mossy Maple Grove, and to learn about this unique ecosystem and how you can help protect it!

Follow the links below to see:

Stunning new photos of the Mossy Maple Grove:  https://16.52.162.165/photos-sub.php?sID=2

Ancient Forest Alliance press release– “Canada’s Mossiest Rainforest” found on Vancouver Island: https://16.52.162.165/news-item.php?ID=329

Also find out more about the status of BC’s old-growth forests and of raw log exports to China, of the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew and the McLaughlin Ridge near Port Alberni, and what’s in store for 2012 as we approach our 2 year anniversary since our founding!

Take part in a fun Pledge Auction led by Joan Varley to help us raise greatly needed funds for our new organization!

For more info contact: info@ancientforestalliance.org

Hope to see you there!

Ken Wu, TJ Watt, Joan Varley

Ancient Forest Alliance

Protect McLaughlin Ridge YouTube Clip (1min)

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Direct link to YouTube clip (1min): www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZiO1wAKwE

Help us protect the old-growth forests of McLaughlin Ridge near Port Alberni!

Conservationists are calling on the BC government to protect a 500 hectare tract of ancient Douglas fir forest near Port Alberni that biologists have classified as both critical habitat for wintering deer and nesting endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks. Conservationists would like the BC government to protect the old-growth forest on private land on McLaughlin Ridge by purchasing it from Island Timberlands.

See the photo gallery here: www.ancientforestalliance.org/photos.php?gID=10

The land was formerly intended for protection as an Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) for black-tailed deer and as a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) for the endangered goshawk until 2004 when the BC Liberal government removed 88,000 hectares of land now owned by Island Timberlands from their Tree Farm Licenses (TFL’s), thus removing most existing environmental protections on those lands and failing to implement other planned protections. Island Timberlands began logging the 500 hectare tract of old-growth forest a year ago, clearcutting 100 hectares or more from both sides of the Grove, while about 400 hectares of the core area still remains – for now.

Local Port Alberni activist Jane Morden stands beside the McLaughlin Giant - an old-growth Douglas-fir measuring 23.5ft in circumference / 7.5ft in diameter.

Chainsaw buzz stirs up once-protected old growth

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Environmentalists want the province to buy a tract of previously protected old-growth forest near Port Alberni that is now being logged by Island Timberlands.

McLaughlin Ridge was classified as critical habitat for wintering deer and endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks until 2004, when the province allowed it to be removed from a tree farm licence.

Different regulations governing private managed forest land mean part of the 500-hectare forest is now being logged.

“Here’s another major example of the serious havoc wreaked by the BC government’s TFL-removal scheme,” said Ken Wu, cofounder of the Ancient Forest Alliance. “The BC government created this mess by largely deregulating these forest lands and now they need to clean it up by protecting the previously protected old-growth forests, deer winter range and endangered species habitat.”

The area is used by black-tail deer, which feed on lichen hanging from old-growth trees when snow is on the ground.

“These are not deer that live at sea level, where there is rarely snow, or urban deer that feed on your flowers and garden veggies,” Wu said.

“The deer rely on old-growth forests like McLaughlin Ridge for winter shelter and lichens, which are lacking in clearcuts and second-growth stands.”

Endangered Queen Charlotte goshawk nest in the area, which is considered by government biologists to be one of the most ecologically significant sites in BC, said Jane Morden, coordinator of the Port Alberni-based Friends of McLaughlin Ridge.

“To let the whole thing get logged would be a travesty,” she said.

However, Island Timberlands spokeswoman Morgan Kennah said logging in McLaughlin Ridge is based on information the company receives from consulting biologists.

“We maintain an inventory of the goshawk nests because they are a species of critical importance and we modify our practices if nests are found in the area,” she said.

In keeping with the rules guiding logging on private managed forest land, critical wildlife habitat is protected by changing patterns of logging or volume, Kennah said.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson, who is on a trade mission in China, could not be contacted Monday.

[Direct link to the Times Colonist article no longer available]

The McLaughlin Giant - Old-growth Douglas-fir measuring 23.5ft in circumference or 7.5ft in diameter

Protect McLaughlin Ridge! Please take 5 minutes to write a quick email!

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Protect McLaughlin Ridge!
Please take 5 minutes to write a quick email!
Old-Growth Logging of Forest Lands Intended for Protection on Vancouver Island Threatens Deer Winter Range and Endangered Goshawk Habitat
* See a new YOUTUBE clip (1 minute) about McLaughlin Ridge at:

* See a SPECTACULAR new photogallery of the endangered McLaughlin Ridge at: https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/photos.php?gID=10

Conservationists are calling on the BC government to protect a 500 hectare tract of ancient Douglas fir forest near Port Alberni that biologists have classified as both critical habitat for wintering deer and nesting endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks. Conservationists would like the BC government to purchase the old-growth forest on private land on McLaughlin Ridge from Island Timberlands.
The land was formerly intended for protection as an Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) for black-tailed deer and as a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) for the endangered goshawk until 2004 when the BC Liberal government removed 88,000 hectares of land now owned by Island Timberlands from their Tree Farm Licenses (TFL’s), thus removing most existing environmental protections on those lands and exempting the area from other planned protections.   Island Timberlands began logging the 500 hectare tract of old-growth forest a year ago, clearcutting 100 hectares or more from both sides of the Grove, while about 400 hectares of the core area still remains – for now.
***Note: We don’t want to get any “bah humbug” complaints about how deer eat your garden veggies and are common in Victoria! On Vancouver Island as a whole, deer populations have plummeted from over 200,000 in the 1970’s to less than 60,000 animals today. These are not urban deer that live by the coast without snow – these are deer that live in the interior mountains of Vancouver Island at higher elevations where there is over 10 feet of snow and no garden veggies! The old-growth forests in such regions provide both shelter and food (in the form of lichens) – but most of their wintering habitat at such elevations have been logged now.
See more details on the Ancient Forest Alliance’s press release at:

See the Alberni Valley Times article “Critics Insist Logging Harms Wildlife” at:

PLEASE take 5 minutes and WRITE a Letter to Minister of Forests Steve Thomson at: steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca
and Minister of the Environment Terry Lake at: terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca
telling them:
– McLaughlin Ridge has the largest and highest quality wintering range for black-tailed deer on southern Vancouver Island
– It is vital habitat for the endangered Queen Charlotte goshawk on southern Vancouver Island
– It is part of the last 1% of old-growth Douglas firs on BC’s coast
– The old-growth forests there were formerly intended for protection from logging as an Ungulate Winter Range and Wildlife Habitat Area until the BC government removed the Tree Farm License (TFL 44) from these lands in 2004, thereby exempting the area from these planned environmental protections.
– Therefore the BC government must remedy this situation by protecting these areas that were formerly intended to become off-limits to logging by buying them – with a high priority going to McLaughlin Ridge.
***Be sure to include your name and your home mailing address so that they know you are a real person!
Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbia Blacktail Deer

Critics insist logging harms wildlife

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Environmentalists are raising the alarm about the logging of old-growth Douglas firs taking place near Port Alberni.

They are calling on the provincial government to protect a 500hectare tract of old-growth forest they say biologists have classified as critical habitat for wintering deer and nesting endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks.

Island Timberlands owns the area in question on McLaughlin Ridge, southeast of the city.

Two local groups are asking the government to purchase the land from IT in order to protect it.

Members of the Ancient Forest Alliance and Friends of McLaughlin Ridge say the land was formerly protected as a winter feeding area for black-tailed deer and as a known nesting area for the endangered goshawk.

In 2004, the B.C. government removed 88,000 hectares of land now owned by Island Timberlands from their Tree Farm Licenses.

Of the 500-hectare tract, the groups say 100 hectares have already been logged, but the core portion of the stand remains intact.

Ancient Forest Alliance spokesperson Ken Wu said he hopes the logging has stopped for the winter, to buy some time to try to save what remains.

He added 99% of the coastal old-growth Douglas firs have already been logged on Vancouver Island.

“It’s pretty crazy we have to fight over the last 1%,” Wu said. He explained the area is covered in lichens, which are a vital winter food source for deer. The trees also provide shelter, he added. Bed Bath and Beyond Wedding Registry

This concerns environmentalists because they say the black-tailed deer population is in decline, in large part due to the destruction of their winter habitat.

Less deer, Wu said, means less food for wolves, cougars, bears and subsistence hunters.

The Queen Charlotte goshawk, a bird of prey, is “red” – listed and considered endangered, with only about 300 nesting pairs known to exist, he said.

McLaughlin Ridge is a known nesting area for these birds.

Wu said any recovery plan for this species should include protection of one of their few remaining known nesting areas. The groups contend Victoria created “this mess” by largely deregulating these forest lands.

“We will be asking Island Timberlands to show good will to the community by putting their logging plans for McLaughlin Ridge on hold until funds are put forward to protect this critical old-growth habitat,” said Jane Morden, coordinator of the Port Alberni-based Friends of McLaughlin Ridge.

IT spokesperson Morgan Kennah could not confirm whether logging in the area will continue this winter, although she said IT does have harvest plans across that general area, and has completed some “clear-cutting with variable retention levels” there.

“IT has not received a formal proposal to purchase that area and actions will not be stalled indefinitely for a proposal that may or may not come to fruition,” she said.

Kennah acknowledged the area is considered suitable habitat for deer and the Queen Charlotte goshawk, and IT does alter its helilogging when young of the latter species are hatching to reduce the noise impact.

“Wildlife procedures are in place that dictate modified practices,” she said, adding that logging in areas identified as wildlife habitat are planned in consultation with a registered biologist.

As for IT’s critics, Kennah said residents can learn more about the company’s logging plans by attending the next West Island Woodland Advisory Group meetings on Dec. 8 at the AlberniClayoquot Regional District office.

Direct link to Alberni Valley Times article:  https://www2.canada.com/albernivalleytimes/news/story.html?id=d7fe1099-d963-4e1a-b9ef-d878c7eefeef

Columbia Blacktail Deer

Old-Growth Logging of Forest Lands Formerly Intended for Protection on Vancouver Island Threatens Deer Winter Range and Endangered Goshawk Habitat

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Conservationists are calling on the BC government to protect a 500 hectare tract of old-growth forest near Port Alberni that biologists have classified as both critical habitat for wintering deer and nesting endangered Queen Charlotte goshawks. Conservationists would like the BC government to purchase the forest on private land on McLaughlin Ridge from Island Timberlands.

See new photos of the endangered McLaughlin Ridge at: https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/mclaughlin-ridge/

See a new Youtube clip about McLaughlin Ridge at:  https://youtu.be/XsZiO1wAKwE

The land was formerly intended for protection as an Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) for black-tailed deer and as a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) for the endangered goshawk until 2004 when the BC Liberal government removed 88,000 hectares of land now owned by Island Timberlands from their Tree Farm Licenses (TFL’s), thus removing most existing environmental protections and exempting the area from other planned protections on those lands. Island Timberlands began logging the 500 hectare tract of old-growth forest a year ago, clearcutting 100 hectares or more from both sides of the Grove, while about 400 hectares of the core area still remains – for now.

“McLaughlin Ridge is a provincially-significant site and easily the most important deer winter range and goshawk habitat on southern Vancouver Island – to let the whole thing get logged would be a travesty,” stated Jane Morden, coordinator of the Port Alberni-based Friends of McLaughlin Ridge. “We will be asking Island Timberlands to show good will to the community by putting their logging plans for McLaughlin Ridge on hold until funds are put forward to protect this critical old-growth habitat.”

“Here’s another major example of the serious havoc wreaked by the BC government’s TFL-removal scheme. The BC government created this mess by largely deregulating these forest lands – now they need to clean it up by protecting the old-growth forests, deer winter range, and endangered species habitat previously protected or intended for protection, including purchasing McLaughlin Ridge for protection,” stated Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder.

The removal of Weyerhaeuser’s private forest lands (later sold to Island Timberlands) from TFL’s 44 and 39 in 2004 also led to the removal of numerous environmental protections and exempted the area from other planned environmental protections on 88,000 hectares of deregulated land on Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and Haida Gwaii. This included thousands of hectares of planned protection for endangered species (Wildlife Habitat Areas), deer and elk winter habitat (Ungulate Winter Ranges), and old-growth forests (Old-Growth Management Areas), as well as riparian forest protections for salmon and trout, controls on the rate of logging, prohibitions against real estate development, and provincial restrictions on raw log exports.

McLaughlin Ridge is considered by government biologists to be one of the most ecologically significant sites in BC of extremely high conservation value. It is a south-facing (ie. warmer, sunnier) stand of extremely rare old-growth coastal Douglas firs – 99% of which have been logged – and hemlocks covered in lichens that serve as food for deer in times of heavy winter snowfalls and provides them shelter against the elements. Vancouver Island’s black-tailed deer population declined from over 200,000 animals in 1980, to an estimated 55,000 animals by the turn of this century in large part due to the destruction of their mid-elevation old-growth wintering habitat.

“Take note these are not deer that live at sea level where there is rarely snow or urban deer that feed on your flowers and garden veggies. These are high altitude deer populations that live in mountainous regions of Vancouver Island where there is a massive amount of snow in winter – like over 10 feet deep in places – and no veggie gardens to eat,” stated Wu. “The deer rely on old-growth forests like McLaughlin Ridge for winter shelter and lichens for food, which are lacking in the clearcuts and second-growth stands. Fewer deer mean less food for wolves, cougars, bears, First Nations, and non-First Nations hunters.”

The Queen Charlotte goshawk subspecies found on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii is a bird of prey that is “red”-listed (ie. endangered) by the provincial government. The McLaughlin Ridge is considered to be one of the finest sites for nesting and foraging Queen Charlotte goshawks left. Queen Charlotte goshawks live in coastal old-growth and mature forests, feeding on squirrels and birds. Only a few hundred nesting pairs are known to exist. Several nests have been found on McLaughlin Ridge in years past. Canada’s inadequate Species At Risk Act (SARA) requires that the provincial government develop a recovery plan to rebuild the populations of endangered species, which the province has not completed yet for the Queen Charlotte goshawk. An effective recovery plan should surely require the protection of the goshawk’s most important old-growth habitat, including the McLaughlin Ridge.

The original logging rights on public (Crown) lands on Vancouver Island were granted to logging companies for free earlier last century on condition that the companies include their private forest lands within the regulatory designation known as Tree Farm Licenses in order to control the rate of cut, ensure wood went to local mills, and ensure environmental standards. Allowing companies to keep their Crown land logging rights while removing their private lands from the TFL’s (thus allowing them to log forests previously protected or intended for protection, to export raw logs, and to sell-off forest lands to developers) has been considered by many to be a breach of the public interest.

The Hupacasath First Nation band in Port Alberni won a Supreme Court ruling in 2008 stating that the provincial government failed to consult and accommodate their interests in allowing the removal of 77,000 hectares of TFL 44 lands. The band is currently in negotiations with the BC government to seek redress for this failure.

“99% of the coastal old-growth Douglas firs have already been logged on Vancouver Island – it should be a no-brainer now that no more should be logged,” stated TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder and photographer. “Why are we being forced to fight over the last 1% still? This is nuts!”