This is a big deal: The Vancouver Sun editorial board is calling on the BC Liberal government to show some actual leadership and chart a new course of policies regarding the fate of our old-growth forests as conflicts escalate in places like the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island! While we don't agree with all of the sentiments they've expressed, the main fact that BC's largest newspaper recognizes that the status quo of old-growth liquidation is ramping up conflict and uncertainty in the forest industry and requires government leadership in the lead-up to a provincial election next May puts big pressure on the BC Liberal government to change course.
They write:
"There is a legitimate discussion to be had about the value of old-growth forests, about whether what remains on the South Coast and Vancouver Island is sufficiently protected, about the extent to which the remaining inventory should be protected, and about resource jobs and the rights of companies to do legal business. Surely, however, there is also a clear role for the provincial government, which has duties of both environmental stewardship and resource management, to serve as an intermediary in such conflicts by providing clear, science-based, arm’s-length evidence as the foundation for an even-handed conversation and to help the two groups whose interests it represents to find common ground. More leadership and less lethargy from Victoria, please."
Avatar Grove Boardwalk Construction – Sept 2016
See the photo gallery of the latest boardwalk construction at the Avatar Grove! We've made some major improvements thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers and all those who've donated!
B.C. municipalities support Vancouver Island push to save old-growth forests
Check out the Vancouver Sun article about the Union of BC Municipalities' vote yesterday on a resolution asking the provincial government to end old-growth logging on Vancouver Island. See the brutal photo (by the AFA's TJ Watt) of the clearcut liquidation of what was once some of the grandest old-growth forests on Earth in the Klanawa Valley near the West Coast Trail.
Hadwin’s Judgement Screening – THANK YOU!
Last night almost 600 people showed up for the benefit screenings in Victoria of Hadwin's Judgement, based on John Vaillant's book The Golden Spruce, for the Ancient Forest Alliance! Thanks to all of you who came out and to producer Elizabeth Yake, author John Vaillant, the Cinecenta theatre, and the volunteers who made such a successful night for our organization and cause!
Thank You to Gavin Wright!
Thank you to 9 year old Gavin Wright, who collected donations at his lemonaide stand for the Ancient Forest Alliance! He showed up to present his batch of donations to us after the film screening of Hadwin's Judgement. We're most grateful to Gavin for his initiative to help our organization and campaigns!
BC municipalities back push to protect Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests
Here's an article about the Union of BC Municipalities' fantastic resolution calling on the province to amend the old Vancouver Island Land Use Plan to protect the remaining old-growth forests.
UBCM Passes Old-Growth Protection Resolution
Conservationists are celebrating as the members of the Union of BC Municipalities, representing cities, towns, and regional district councils across the province, has passed a resolution with a substantial majority today at their AGM calling on the BC government to amend the 1994 Vancouver Island Land Use Plan to protect the Island’s remaining old-growth forests, which have been decimated from a century of industrial logging.
ACTION ALERT: Please Write your Mayor & Council to Support a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund ("Resolution B128"), going up for vote this week at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) AGM Sept.26 to 30!
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) will be voting at their AGM this week on a motion asking the BC government to implement an annual provincial fund to purchase and protect endangered natural spaces on private lands using the accumulated unredeemed beverage container deposits, estimated to be worth $10 to $15 million/ year in BC (see Resolution B128, sponsored by Highlands: https://www.ubcm.ca/assets/Resolutions~and~Policy/Resolutions/2016_UBCM_Resolutions.pdf). Earlier this year the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC), representing 53 local governments, passed the resolution, and now it's time to snowball the support from municipalities across BC to pressure the provincial government! Please WRITE an EMAIL to your mayor and council to express your support for this motion - see HERE for details!
Old-Growth Clearcutting Fragments “Big Lonely Doug’s Mountain” as Calls for Protection Expand during National Forest Week and before UBCM Annual General Meeting
New clearcuts and roads are fragmenting Edinburgh Mountain, one of the largest contiguous blocks of old-growth forest left on southern Vancouver Island, home to the spectacular Eden Grove ancient forest (aka “Christy Clark Grove”) and Big Lonely Doug, Canada’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir tree. In addition, the mountainside above Eden Grove and Big Lonely Doug are threatened with two new planned clearcuts. Conservationists are renewing their call for the provincial government to protect Vancouver Island's old-growth forests during National Forest Week (Sept.18 to 24) and before the Union of BC Municipalities AGM (Sept.26 to 30) next week.
VICTORIA: Hadwin’s Judgement – Film Screening Fundraiser for the Ancient Forest Alliance! Sept. 29
WHEN: Thursday September 29th, showings at 7pm and 9:15pm WHERE: UVic Cinecenta Theatre (UVic Student Union Building, 3800 Finnerty Rd. – see MAP) TICKETS: $15 (or $9 for students) - purchase tickets in advance here or at the door (box office opens 40 min before each showtime)
Editorial: Victoria must intervene in renewed ‘war in the woods’
This is a big deal: The Vancouver Sun editorial board is calling on the BC Liberal government to show some actual leadership and chart a new course of policies regarding the fate of our old-growth forests as conflicts escalate in places like the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island! While we don't agree with all of the sentiments they've expressed, the main fact that BC's largest newspaper recognizes that the status quo of old-growth liquidation is ramping up conflict and uncertainty in the forest industry and requires government leadership in the lead-up to a provincial election next May puts big pressure on the BC Liberal government to change course. They write: "There is a legitimate discussion to be had about the value of old-growth forests, about whether what remains on the South Coast and Vancouver Island is sufficiently protected, about the extent to which the remaining inventory should be protected, and about resource jobs and the rights of companies to do legal business. Surely, however, there is also a clear role for the provincial government, which has duties of both environmental stewardship and resource management, to serve as an intermediary in such conflicts by providing clear, science-based, arm’s-length evidence as the foundation for an even-handed conversation and to help the two groups whose interests it represents to find common ground. More leadership and less lethargy from Victoria, please."