Loup Creek: Exploring for Ancient Giants

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In March, I identified a spectacular grove of unprotected ancient giants along Loup Creek near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory. This region was heavily logged in the 1970s and 80s, save for a strip of old-growth along the river. Most of the old-growth that remains today along Loup Creek is protected within an Old Growth Management Area and a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) for marbled murrelets. But a prime section (pictured below) containing dozens and dozens of ancient redcedars, giant amabalis fir, and Douglas-fir trees was left unprotected. While bushwhacking, we also spotted ribbons marked "Falling Boundary" and "Road Location", indicating potential future logging plans by Teal-Jones.

The BC government is currently working to expand WHAs for marbled murrelets. We've recommended to the Ministry of Forests that this grove should be added to the adjacent WHA, ensuring a contiguous stretch of old-growth is protected along the river, but we don't know whether they will listen.

Tell BC Forests Minister Doug Donaldson to enact both immediate and longer-term, science-based solutions for ancient forests by: 1) Emailing him at: FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca. 2) Tagging him on Twitter using @DonaldsonDoug 3) Phoning his office at: 250-387-6240

BC Grandest Old-Growth Forests Being Clearcut in Caycuse Watershed

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In mid-April, I documented the logging of massive trees by Teal-Jones along in the Caycuse watershed on Vancouver Island. Over 70 hectares of old-growth located along Haddon Creek in Ditidaht Territory, including monumental redcedars over 11 feet in diameter, are being cut down. Some of these were places that I had previously visited while they were still standing. On one stump I counted 800 rings before giving up. Some trees here were likely over a thousand years old.

Without question, this is (or was) one of the grandest forests on the South Island, rivalling the renowned Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew or the Walbran Valley, which lies a short distance to the south. In 2020, it's completely unethical to be logging globally rare ancient forests such as these and converting them to ecologically inferior tree plantations.

Read our press release for more details and PLEASE SPEAK UP! Contact your local MLA to express your concerns using this handy look up tool here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members You can also send an instant message to a number of BC politicians here: www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message

News coverage: Conservation group cries foul over logging old-growth forest in Caycuse River watershed

Surveying recent old-growth clearcutting. The massive tree behind me is next in line to be logged.

Exploring & Climbing Ancient Giants at Eden Grove

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While further exploring Eden Grove in Pacheedaht territory earlier this year, I came across another epic stand of ancient giants!

The grove, located near Port Renfrew, boasts magnificent, monumental redcedars in every direction and forms a perfect, pizza-slice-like triangle. Nicknamed the "Pizza Slice” for now, it truly is a slice of heaven. 🌲🍕

In early March, with the help of our friends at Expedition Old-Growth, we were able to climb and measure the grove's biggest tree: an enormous, burly cedar that came in at 175 feet tall and nearly 14 feet wide!

The "Pizza Slice," Eden Grove, and the rest of Edinburgh Mountain's remaining ancient forests comprise one of the most outstanding, unprotected old-growth "hotspots" on Vancouver Island, where over 96% of "big tree" forests have already been logged. Sadly, this rare, intact mountain is being chipped away at by Teal Jones, one cutblock at a time.

Time is running out to save ancient forest hotspots like this one. Without immediate moratoria, the Province's plans to develop a provincial old-growth strategy will result in a classic talk-and-log scenario.

Speak up. Tell the BC NDP we urgently need immediate AND long-term solutions for old-growth:
https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message/

(Note: These images were captured prior to physical distancing & travel restriction measures being put in place. Small communities like Port Renfrew are now asking people to refrain from visiting at this time.)

Surrounded by ancient redcedar trees that remain unprotected and at risk at Eden Grove near Port Renfrew.

50th Anniversary of Earth Day

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. In reality, it needs to be everyday. In the decades-long push to protect endangered ancient forests, it's hard not to feel like a broken record sometimes. And to be honest, although it's my passion, I'd prefer to do happier things with my life than deal with the ecological grief that comes with seeing these irreplaceable ecosystems destroyed forever - like this before & after scene from the Nahmint Valley. Now more than ever we need strong conservation measures put in place based on science but instead, while provincial parks are closed and people are asked to stay home, endangered old-growth forests continue to be cut and hauled away. So tomorrow, like every other day, we'll wake up and keep fighting that fight for the forests with the vision of a brighter future in our mind's eye. And maybe, just maybe, with much of the world seemingly on pause, this will be seen as an opportunity to step back, reassess, and reconnect with incredible natural world that we all ultimately depend upon.

BBC Earth Features Port Renfrew's Ancient Forests on Instagram

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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!

Takaya, the Lone Wolf, Killed

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Takaya, the Lone Wolf, Killed

Here are photos of the lone wolf, Takaya, which I captured just this past Sunday in the San Juan Valley near Port Renfrew. Tragically, Takaya was shot and killed Tuesday near Shawnigan Lake, making these likely the last images of him still alive. Takaya became famous after living alone on Discovery Island for the past eight years before recently swimming to Victoria where he was relocated by Conservation Officers to Port Renfrew.

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Run With The Ghosts Of Giants

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Check out this great short film by friend & filmmaker, James Frystak, featuring three trail runners using their passion to raise awareness about the beauty and destruction of BC's coastal ancient forests.

The film follows the runners through stunning old-growth forests like Avatar and Eden Grove and the brutal new clearcuts on Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

As the last remaining old-growth forests of British Columbia are reduced to clear cuts and 2nd growth plantations, a group of trail runners and big tree activists come together to explore what it will take to save the endangered Eden Grove of Port Renfrew, British Columbia. Please share this and head to https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/take-action/ and sign the Petition to Protect BC's Endangered Old-Growth Forests and Forestry Jobs