Press: Central Walbran & Edinburgh Mt. Ancient Forest Threatened

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We've already picked up some big news coverage on the logging threat facing the endangered Central Walbran and Edinburgh Mountain Ancient Forests on southern Vancouver Island! Be sure to watch the Global TV interview with the Ancient Forest Alliance's Ken Wu below. Really happy to see that the included a lot of my photos and video footage of the areas alongside it as well! Video: http://globalnews.ca/video/2102896/vancouver-island-ancient-forests-at-risk

Exploration: Central Walbran Ancient Forest - Vancouver Island, BC

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This past weekend, my partner Jackie and I took time to explore and document the endangered old-growth forests of the Central Walbran Ancient Forest on southern Vancouver Island, BC. It was pretty extreme terrain in most sections along the hillside and the heat and relentless mosquitoes only added to the challenge. But the forests here are some of the most rare and beautiful on Earth. Trees of monstrous shapes and sizes, growing largely undisturbed for millennia. However, they're currently under threat as a Surrey-based forestry company, the Teal-Jones Group, is aggressively moving forward with plans for eight new cutblocks (clearcuts) and a new road in the heart of this magnificent rainforest. The photos in this gallery are from the 4412, 4410, and 4424 proposed cutblocks shown on the map. The Walbran Valley is home to perhaps Canada’s finest stands of old-growth redcedars. Stepping into the forest here is like getting into a real-life time machine. It allows one to travel backwards in time and experience the magnificence of our corner of the world as it once was. If you haven't visited the Walbran Valley before, do try to. It changed my life and many others too. More news to come as we ramp up our efforts to protect this incredible natural treasure.

Press: Macleans Features Big Lonely Doug Climb

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In celebration of Canada's 148th birthday, Macleans has featured 148 first-person videos from people and places across the country.  Up front is a 1 minute video of our climb up Big Lonely Doug, Canada's second largest Douglas-fir tree near Port Renfrew, shot by both Will Koomjian and myself. Keep an eye out for a photo in the print edition as well!

 

From Above: Nitinat Lake Region, Klanawa Valley, & Lake Cowichan

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Exploring and documenting BC’s old-growth forests and the impacts of industrial logging on the ground is a monumental task, especially in more remote areas. One can spend days, weeks, months, driving logging roads in search of the next giant tree - or giant clearcut - and you still wouldn't be able to see it all. So when Nick Temos of the Pacific Northwest Collective approached me to with the idea to have the Ancient Forest Alliance collaborate with his group on conservation issues - which included the amazing opportunity to fly over these landscapes - I jumped at it. After meeting for coffee and discussing potential endangered areas to focus on over summer, Nick suggested we get up in the air that afternoon to practice shooting some photos and communicating ideas. Our route took us from Victoria over Duncan, up the Cowichan Valley and over the Nitinat Lake region, including the Nitinat Triangle, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Cheewhat Lake, Oyees Lake, and Doobah Lake. We also spent some time over the Klanawa Valley, documenting the devastating impacts of old-growth logging by Western Forest Products. I'm hugely grateful for Nick and the Pacific Northwest Collective's interest in furthering conservation efforts from a birds-eye-view. Expect to see the results of many more flights in the near future!

Snapshot: Roosevelt Elk near Port Renfrew

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Near the town of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island's west coast, Roosevelt elk, the Island's largest mammal, can often be found grazing in the estuaries of the San Juan and Gordon Rivers. It's such a peaceful experience sitting and watching from forest edge as these humble animals go about their daily lives. The rainforests of the pacific northwest are home to some of the most beautiful natural scenes on Earth.

Canon 5D MKII, 70-200 f.4 IS (This scene left me wishing for a longer telephoto lens!)

 

Exposed: Logging in the Walbran Valley - Vancouver Island

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I've been a little absent from posting on here over the last while but I've been out in the field shooting a lot and gathering new work. I'll be playing catch up over the next few weeks, sharing with you images of the large-scale old-growth logging that still continues here on Vancouver Island. About 75% of the original, productive old-growth forests have already been logged on BC’s southern coast, including over 90% of the valley-bottom ancient forests where the largest trees grow - we have very little time left to save what remains. By continuing to capture and share these photos and maps, I hope to put a tangible face to these remote but incredible valleys and groves. Today's post features old-growth logging by Western Forest Products up road W730 in the Walbran Valley.