Sierra Club BC's 2009 Coastal Forest Report

Sierra Club BC just put out a solid, straightforward report on the state and potential future of BC's Coastal Rainforests. The research uncovers the impact industrial logging has had on the various ecosystems along the coast, the thresholds at which diversity and species start to collapse, and the links of forests and forestry practices to climate change. The report also states a list of positive changes that must be implicated to move towards a sustainable ecosystem based green economy and healthy, functioning, environments.

The cover images were shot by myself aside from the top center and bottom left corner photos which were taken by Jeremy Williams. I also have three other photographs featured throughout the report itself, showcasing a few of the different biogeoclimatic zones studied. Click here to read the report.

A Trip Along N500

A couple of months ago I took a solo day trip along logging road N500 that runs along part of the Jordan Ridge. This road is reached with a left hand turn off of Northern Main, the entrance of which is located just before China Beach. This big lonely fir tree was one of the first sights of the day. GPS: 48.48268, -124.08981

The road then winds around what is mostly young second growth trees. After awhile though you end up passing through some gorgeous bog forests. The stunted trees growing out of these landscapes turn it into a lifesize bonzai world.

Due to the acidic and anaerobic conditions of bogs, wood that has fallen in is preserved for hundreds or even thousands of years. This makes it prime wood for dendrochronology, often providing records much older than living trees.

Seen here is one of the newest cuts along N500. GPS:48.48079, -124.10226

A mountain stream runs out of a culvert and into a mass of wood waste in the same Western Forest Products clearcut.

On my way out I noticed a second large Fir that had been left uncut. These trees serve as an impressive reminder to what once stood in an area but do little else. The interconnected ecosystem of which they were once part of has been entirely altered. And once the winter winds arrive, these trees are prone to snapping or toppling over due to the lack of the surrounding forest they once had.

2010 WC2 Calendar Image

This is an image I shot in the unprotected Upper Walbran Valley located near Cowichan Lake. The tree is a western redcedar nicknamed the Castle Giant. It measures over 50ft in circumference is thought to be upwards of 1500 years old. The photo was printed in the Western Canada Wilderness Committee's 2010 calendar that features many threatened areas across the country.

Push.ca Change Skateboards Article

Have a few photos of my good friends in Toronto on Change Skateboards up on Push.ca. Frank Deniello wrote a column about the company and the team. Check out the flicks and some video clips! **CLICK HERE TO SEE**

Muir Creek Logging

Timber West logging of second growth forests in the Muir Creek watershed. This logging is contentious at this time due to the CRD's interest in preserving the whole watershed as a park. The water you see along the bottom is where they have ignored falling boundaries and logged straight through a stream. Muir Creek is one of only three steelhead spawning grounds on the southwest corner of Vancouver Island. Logging co-ordinates: 48.40296, -123.86794

It was an extremely wet and windy day. Not ideal conditions for using a camera or going on a long hike.

Beginning the long walk out...

This pretty much sums up the weather that day

Time to head for soup and hot chocolate.

The subsequent news article published in the Times Colonist, Nov.24th.2009.

Tower Point Sunrise

I woke up early to shoot sunrise a couple of weeks ago down at Tower Point in Metchosin. You never really know what your going to get. Sometimes it's just grey clouds that slowly get lighter until it's daytime while other mornings it's a fiery glow of warm striking colors. One thing for certain though is that each one is uniquely different and always an invigorating experience.

Countdown to Copenhagen

On Tuesday night I photographed the Countdown to Copenhagen climate change event hosted in the Victoria Conference Center. Speakers such Guy Dauncey of  BCSEA, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Andrew Weaver, and Green Party leader Elizabeth May were there to set the facts straight and motivate people to act on climate change. Over 1000 people turned out in what was most likely the largest indoor environmental event in Victoria's history.

Tofino Trip 2009

Gisele Martin of  Tlaook Cultural Adventures lead the group through a very wet but enchanting Meares Island tour. Gisele shares with people the first nations deep insight and knowledge of this land.

Everybody from the activism workshop sits in front of the giant Poster Tree Cedar.

The trail also passes by the gigantic and ever strange Hanging Garden Tree.

On the drive back home we stopped for a storm walk and some photos along Long Beach. Camera's and people were soaked to the core.

The weekend was definitely a wet one with flooding rivers and pounding rain but it really is that which brings the west coast landscape to life.