Thanks to everyone who voted for my eagle photo from the Great Bear Rainforest! It's the winner of week 32 in HippyTree's #52weeksofnature photo contest🥇See the article here for a brief Q&A: https://www.hippytree.com/blog/52weeksofnature-photo-contest-week-32-2020-winner/ Limited edition t-shirts also available here: https://www.hippytree.com/…/52weeksofnatu…/heather-charcoal/
Published and News
Independent Report Reveals BC Government Misleading Public on Status of Old-Growth Forests
On my birthday last week, an independent report titled "BC's Old Growth Forest: A Last Stand for Biodiversity" was published revealing the dire state of productive old-growth forests in BC (see below).
Despite the brutal reality this research has highlighted, I still consider it one of the best presents ever in that it unequivocally dispels the misleading statistics and tricks peddled by the BC government that try to make it seem like there is no crisis in the woods. They can't hide from this one though and it's already making an impact. My deepest gratitude extends to the report's authors, Dr. Rachel Holt, Dr. Karen Price, and Dave Daust for their most important work on this.
Below are some of the key findings of the report:
1. The BC government maintains there are 13.2 million hectares of old-growth in BC, but fails to acknowledge that only 400,000 ha (or 3%) of those old forests are capable of growing big trees.
2. Highly productive forests with the potential to grow very large trees (like the ones we feature in our photos) cover less than 3% of the province. 97.3% of this 3% has been logged and only 2.7% remains as old-growth.
3. Most (over 75%) of the fraction of remaining high productivity old-growth forests are slated for logging.
4. The province's old-growth protection levels are grossly inadequate, placing most higher productivity forest ecosystems across the province at "high risk" of species loss and losing ecological integrity.
The report's authors, Ancient Forest Alliance, and other conservation groups are calling on the Province to:
1) Enact immediate logging moratoria in:
- all endangered forest types with less than 10 percent old-growth remaining;
- all high productivity old and mature forests;
- landscape units (i.e. clusters of watersheds) at "high risk" of losing ecological integrity;
- very old, irreplaceable forests; and
- remaining intact areas or old-growth ‘hotspots’ like Vancouver Island's Central Walbran Valley.
2) Set legislated, science-based old-growth protection targets for endangered old-growth across the province.
More to come on this but in the meantime you can always contact your MLA to voice your concerns around protecting old-growth (Look them up here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members) or send a message to the BC Government here: https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message.
Media Coverage:
• The Narwhal: B.C. old-growth data ‘misleading’ public on remaining ancient forest: independent report
• Vancouver Sun: Scientists conclude B.C.'s count of old-growth forest greatly overestimated
• CBC News: B.C. vastly overestimates size of its old-growth forest, independent researchers say
• Victoria News: Big old trees almost gone forever in B.C., scientists warn
• CKPG Today (with TV news piece): Old growth forests logged to ecological limits: Report
Before & after of BC’s 9th widest known Douglas-fir tree, cut down by BC Timber Sales in the Nahmint Valley near Port Alberni.
Chatting with CHEK News about Earth Day 2020
I chatted with CHEK News yesterday re. Earth Day 2020 in the context of a global pandemic. I have to say, it was a little odd doing an interview over the phone while trying to look where the reporter should be, but we’re living in different times.
See: www.cheknews.ca/earth-day-the-post-pandemic-economic-rebuild-should-be-sustainable-say-conservationists-663914/
BBC Earth Features Port Renfrew's Ancient Forests on Instagram
BBC Earth has featured Avatar Grove, the unprotected Eden Grove, and Big Lonely Doug in their latest Instagram story (which reaches 5.2 million followers!), helping to raise global awareness of the need to protect these rare and endangered ecosystems. See the story where I tour Connel Bradwell through the ancient forests near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory on their page here: www.instagram.com/bbcearth/ (click the circle image of BLD or direct link). Below are some photos from our day out in the field!
Take a moment to read the insightful article below from Tla-o-qui-aht canoe carver, artist, & friend Joe Martin.
Now is our greatest chance to speak up for ancient forests. Submit your feedback on the BC government's Old Growth Strategy by this Friday, January 31st here: https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/old-growth-review
Why is a B.C. government agency violating old-growth logging rules?
Solid coverage in the October 20th Times Colonist newspaper with this article from Judith Lavoie about BC Timber Sales alledged logging violations in the Nahmint Valley near Port Alberni. See: www.timescolonist.com/islander/why-is-a-b-c-government-agency-violating-old-growth-logging-rules-1.23981779
The Weather Network: Big Lonely Doug & Old-Growth Forests
Last week I took The Weather Network out to Port Renfrew to chat about old-growth conservation at Big Lonely Doug and the Eden Grove. See the video here: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/videos/gallery/meet-big-lonely-doug-and-the-many-other-historic-trees-that-need-saving-in-bc/
Douglas Magazine: Old-Growth, New Ideas
See the latest old-growth article in Douglas Magazine: A Closer Look at B.C. Forestry and Tall Tree Tourism, which looks at the old-growth issue, tourism, & raw log exports, and features photos and interviews from myself and others.