Anderson Lake Hike - Walbran Valley

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Spent the weekend in the Walbran and hiked out to Anderson Lake for a swim. In the 15 years I've been going out there now, somehow I’ve never made it all the way to the lake! Thanks to recent trail improvements though by rockstar volunteers, it's much easier to find the way there now. Still a decent trek though - about a 10km round trip that includes a log jam crossing - but nice to take a dip in the lake as a reward! The Sitka spruce are hugely impressive as well and thankfully protected within the provincial park, unlike the endangered cedar groves growing nearby. Maxine’s Tree, one of Canada’s largest sitka spruce trees, is a wonder to behold. It grows about 3/4 of the way along to the trail to Anderson Lake. GPS coordinates for the tree: 48.669953, -124.598958. Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/37aoMxodcJtKYPyg9

Maxine's Tree, one of Canada's largest spruce trees! 265ft tall and 13.2ft wide. A true giant!

Raft Cove Getaway

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Went camping at Raft Cove on the north island for the first time earlier this month ~ such a wild and beautiful place! Friends, fires, sun, wind, rain, wildlife, surf, trees, paddling, games, and relaxation time. A muddy hike in and 1200km round trip but worth every bit! 👌🏼

Independent Report Reveals BC Government Misleading Public on Status of Old-Growth Forests

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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.

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.