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Canada's Gnarliest Tree in Avatar Grove

It’s a land of giants in Port Renfrew’s ancient Avatar Grove

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Link to original article: www.straight.com/article-697301/vancouver/its-land-giants-ancient-avatar-grove

The grey, weathered sticks poking out the top of the thick forest canopy near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island’s southwest tip look like so much deadwood to an untrained eye.

But for a man whose aim is to draw visitors to the Island’s western shore to experience the awesomeness of old-growth forests, they are a reason to get excited. Very excited.

“Those candelabra tops are a sign of ancient red cedars,” explains T J Watt, cofounder of the Ancient Forest Alliance, a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect old-growth forests and ensure sustainable forestry jobs in B.C. “When I first saw those tops, I knew instantly we’d found a treasure trove of big trees.”

The year was 2009 and Watt was searching for an accessible, iconic stand of trees that could serve as a rallying point in a marketing campaign for the Alliance. He found the tract—dubbed Avatar Grove by the group after the James Cameron blockbuster film (brilliant marketing move or majorly lame, you decide)—just a 10-minute walk/scramble from a logging road and a 20-minute drive from the logging town of Port Renfrew. Single Mothers College Grants

Thanks to the Alliance’s efforts, this extraordinary collection of giant western red cedars, Douglas firs, and Sitka spruces—which is estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 years old—has been mapped and is now protected from logging.

Finding the grove takes a bit of pre-trip planning. There are no location markers, just paper signs in plastic sleeves and flagging tape hanging from trees to mark the starting point of the primitive trail. Visitors will need a map (available for free on the Alliance’s website) or, better yet, a guide to find the giants. Watt is happy to lead groups to the most impressive trees, including, in his words, “Canada’s gnarliest”: a massive cedar with a four-metre-wide trunk that’s distorted with lumpy, bumpy fungus growth.

These days, the Alliance is busy fundraising to build a boardwalk to the grove. “We’ve had thousands of people visit in the last two years,” Watt says. “Steps on the trail’s steeper sections and boardwalks around the most popular trees will protect the forest floor and make it easier for people of all abilities to see the incredible trees.”

Keen for more? The Alliance’s website also provides directions to the Red Creek Fir (the world’s largest Douglas fir) and the San Juan Sitka spruce (Canada’s largest spruce), both located near Port Renfrew and accessible via poorly maintained gravel roads.

Access: To reach Avatar Grove, take Highway 14 to Port Renfrew (just over a two-hour drive west of Victoria) and follow the directions at the Ancient Forest Alliance website

Call to write letters

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Hello friends, there is an urgent need for your voice on numerous endangered ancient forests in BC right now! Please take a moment to assist with each area – if you commit just 30 minutes, you could help each area listed below right now: Avatar Grove, Cortes Island, the Great Bear Rainforest, Flores Island, McLaughlin Ridge, and Mossy Maple Grove:

AVATAR GROVE

GOOD NEWS! The BC government this morning declared the Avatar Grove legally off-limits to logging through a new, 59 hectare Old-Growth Management Area! We’re aiming that eventually the Avatar Grove will be protected through legislation as a park or conservancy, but this keeps out the chainsaws now! The Avatar Grove campaign has been an “old-growth campaign on steroids”. Thousands of people have visited this incredible monumental stand of extremely rare valley-bottom ancient redcedars and Douglas firs near Port Renfrew in a campaign spearheaded by the Ancient Forest Alliance. The Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce played a pivotal role by joining our call for the area’s protection. Unfortunately the logging company, Teal-Jones will be compensated with 30 hectares of second-growth and 27 hectares of old-growth (57 hectares) in the area – the AFA opposes compensation since the company does not own the land nor the trees, these are public forests. Lets remember too that THOUSANDS of hectares of old-growth forests are logged

EVERY year on Vancouver Island, tens of thousands of hectares are logged across BC, and millions of hectares remain unprotected and endangered in the province – this is a campaign to end logging of ALL endangered forests and to ensure sustainable second-growth forestry in BC.

CORTES ISLAND

Over 1000 hectares of endangered “dry maritime” forests are threatened with logging by Island Timberlands. Determined local residents on this northern Gulf Island have built different teams to undertake petition and letter-writing drives, fundraising, negotiations, mapping, and potentially blockades – which may happen shortly. BC’s Ministry of Environment has responded to our first round of letters calling on them to help protect these lands that it has “no funds available”.

Let’s ramp-up the call by targeting Premier Christy Clark now at premier@gov.bc.ca (include your full name and mailing address so they know you are a real person). Write her a quick letter to let her know it is the province’s responsibility to help purchase the endangered forests, sensitive ecosystems, and rare old-growth groves on Island Timberland’s private lands on Cortes Island. Only 1% of BC’s old-growth coastal Douglas firs remain!

GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST

The central and northern mainland coast of BC is massive, twice the size of Vancouver Island and bigger than many European countries. It is home to numerous First Nations communities and the towns of Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola. It is also home to hundreds of ancient forest valleys with grizzlies, spirit bears, wolves, cougars, and salmon. BC made headlines six years ago when the province promised to save the largest intact temperate rainforest left on Earth. Today 50% of its forests are off-limits to logging while the rest remains at risk.

  • Please SIGN ONLINE to help the campaigners to “Take it Taller” to reach their goal of 5000 supporters at: www.TakeItTaller.ca [Original article no longer available]

FLORES ISLAND

Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound is Heaven on Earth. It is one of the most extensive intact ancient rainforests left in southern BC. Located near Tofino in Nuu-cha-nulth territory, it is home to wolves, cougars, deer, and black bears on the land, and gray whales, humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and sea otters in its marine waters. Unfortunately it is under threat from logging.

MCLAUGHLIN RIDGE

Near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, this 400 hectare tract of extremely rare old-growth Douglas firs and hemlocks is considered to be the finest deer wintering range on southern Vancouver Island and is critical habitat for the endangered Queen Charlotte goshawk. Island Timberlands is still intransigent and won’t commit to not logging the ridge.

MOSSY MAPLE GROVE, a.k.a. “Fangorn Forest”

This unique, newly located stand of magnificent, massive mossy maple trees near Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island is just about the most beautiful forest you could imagine – straight out of a fairy tale!

  • See NEW HD video of the grove here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzOefJnAENI
  • Watch for calls to action to ensure this forest’s protection!
  • Directions will be made available to visit the Grove in the not distant future, for all those who are asking! Please be patient.

MOST of ALL please SIGN and FORWARD our online petition to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and forestry jobs at: ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/

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Support the Ancient Forest Alliance!

We are a new organization and greatly need your support.

Please DONATE securely online at https://donate.ancientforestalliance.org

Visit the Ancient Forest Alliance online at:
Web: www.ancientforestalliance.org
Email: info@16.52.162.165
Petition: https://16.52.162.165/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ancientforestalliance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancient_forest
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/BCAncientForest

AFA supports Avatar Grove’s protection, calls for provincial old-growth plan

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Today’s announcement by the BC government to legally prohibit logging of the Avatar Grove by including it in 59.4 hectares of Old-Growth Management Areas (OGMA) was met with happiness by the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA), the BC environmental group that identified and popularized the monumental stand of valley-bottom ancient redcedars and Douglas fir near Port Renfrew two years ago. Of 236 public comments, during the public input process from September through November 2011, 232 comments were in favour of Avatar Grove’s protection.

“We commend the BC government for protecting this key tract of extremely rare valley bottom ancient forest – virtually all of the valley bottoms on southern Vancouver Island where the biggest trees grow have been logged, literally 95% of them, ” stated TJ Watt, the Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder who came across the Avatar Grove in December of 2009. “At the same time, thousands of hectares of old-growth forests are being logged every year on Vancouver Island, and millions of hectares of old-growth forests are endangered across BC. Our main goal is to see a new provincial plan to protect ALL of BC’s endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable second-growth forest industry instead.”

The Avatar Grove is an easy 15-minute drive mainly along paved roads from the town of Port Renfrew on southwestern Vancouver Island. Over the past two years, thousands of people have visited the Grove. The AFA has held countless hiking tours and slideshows to thousands of people, taken media from across the country on tour, organized rallies and protests, and worked with the local businesses of Port Renfrew through the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce to ensure the protection of the Avatar Grove. The Grove was surveyed and flagged for logging when the campaign began in February 2010.

See a Youtube Clip of Avatar Grove at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uPkAWsvVw
See a photo gallery of TJ Watt’s incredible Avatar Grove photos: https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/avatar-grove/

“This Avatar Grove campaign has been an ancient forest campaign on steroids – with thousands of people from across BC and around the world coming for a visit, and international media like Al-Jazeera covering the issue. This is a great day for the tourism businesses of Port Renfrew, Sooke, Lake Cowichan, and Victoria, and for the wildlife of Avatar Grove. The next step is to get this area legislated as a park or conservancy,” stated Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder. “But it’s important to note that the Avatar Grove was always a springboard for our provincial campaign to protect all of BC’s endangered old-growth forests, and 2012 will be a year when we wage a relentless campaign to that end.”

The Avatar Grove has some of Canada’s largest trees, including scores of giant western redcedars – some over 4 meters (15 feet) wide, including “Canada’s Gnarliest Tree” with its 3-meter (10 feet) wide burl. The Grove itself is found on gentle terrain in the valley bottom, almost all of which have been logged on southern Vancouver Island. Virtually all other remaining old-growth stands are also far along bumpy logging roads, on steep slopes. It is home to Vancouver Island’s largest wildlife species: wolves, cougars, black bears, elk, and deer.

Unfortunately, the BC government has also compensated the licensee, the Teal-Jones Group, in Tree Farm License 46 where the Avatar Grove is found, with 30 hectares of second-growth forests and 27 hectares of old-growth (57 hectares). “We’re opposed to compensation for the company, as they don’t own the land or the trees on Crown lands – all they have are access rights to the resource through their license. If the government enacts conservation regulations to protect deer or trout in areas where their populations are down, those with hunting or fishing licenses don’t get compensation for not being able to take all the deer or trout in those areas. Neither should logging companies on publicly-owned Crown forests,” states Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder.

On Vancouver Island, over 600,000 hectares of productive old-growth forests (ie. old-growth stands with moderate to fast growth growing conditions, where most logging occurs) remain, out of 2.3 million hectares of such forests originally (ie. about 1.7 million hectares have been logged). About 200,000 hectares are protected in parks or off-limits to logging through Old-Growth Management Areas. In addition, another 700,000 hectares of Vancouver Island consists of low-productivity old-growth forests (ie. stunted bog and subalpine forests with small trees and slow growth rates, most of which are unprofitable to log). In percentages, about 75% of Vancouver Island’s original, productive old-growth forests have been logged, including about 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow, and about 95% of the valley bottoms on the South Island (south of Barkley Sound).

See maps and stats at: https://16.52.162.165/ancient-forests/before-after-old-growth-maps/

The Ancient Forest Alliance is coming up to its two-year anniversary. The organization was officially registered as a not-for-profit society in British Columbia on February 24, 2010.

Ancient Forest Alliance

Canada’s Mossiest Rainforest aka Fangorn Forest

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Direct link to YouTube clip: https://youtu.be/FzOefJnAENI

Please SIGN our PETITION at ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/petition/

This is the unprotected “Mossy Maple Grove”, Canada’s mossiest rainforest, a stand of enormous old-growth Bigleaf maple trees — some as much as 2 meters (7 feet) wide in trunk diameter — completely draped in hanging gardens of mosses and ferns found just south of Cowichan Lake on southern Vancouver Island, BC. This is in the traditional territory of Cowichan Tribes who are part of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group.

Unlike other spotlighted old-growth forests in BC that have all been “coniferous” or needle-leaf trees (Douglas firs, Sitka spruce, western redcedars, etc.), this is an old-growth “deciduous” or broad-leaf rainforest. This area has also been nicknamed “Fangorn Forest” after the forest in The Lord of the Rings.

Filmed and edited by TJ Watt.
Music – “Razorback Sucker” by Tom Fahy – https://www.facebook.com/tomfahymusic/

Ancient Forest Alliance

Canada’s Mossiest Rainforest

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This video, created by BC’s Ancient Forest Alliance, showcases the mossy beauty of Mossy Maple Grove, a forest near Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island.

From the Forest Alliance: “This is the unprotected “Mossy Maple Grove”, Canada’s mossiest rainforest, a stand of enormous old-growth Bigleaf maple trees — some as much as 2 meters (7 feet) wide in trunk diameter — completely draped in hanging gardens of mosses and ferns… This is in the traditional territory of Cowichan Tribes who are part of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group.

Unlike other spotlighted old-growth forests in BC, this is an old-growth ‘deciduous’ or broad-leaf rainforest. This area has also been nicknamed “Fangorn Forest” after the forest in The Lord of the Rings.”

Link to original artlcle from The Tyee: https://thetyee.ca/Video/2012/02/09/fangorn-forest/

Ancient Forest Alliance

Shaw TV: The campaign for Fangorn Forest or the Mossy Maple Rainforest

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Direct link to video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1p96kF0qJg

Local band Quioa new album Wildside to support ancient trees

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Local band Quoia is about to release an album titled Wildside with 10% of the proceeds to be donated to Ancient Forest Alliance.

Quoia is a band known for their high-energy liveshow and uplifting grooves. The new album Wildside release is October 8th in Victoria at Canoe Brewpub, October 15th in Tofino at the Tofino Legion and Nov. 4th in Vancouver at The Media Club with more dates to follow. A performer at the Tall Tree Festival 2011 in Port Renfrew, Quoia’s Wildside album cover features a spectacular painting of Port San Juan

Don’t miss this event of Quoia’s genre-hopping sounds that will have you dancing and singing along. Follow along on facebook and Quoia’s website:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=250737271631693

https://quoiaband.com

Canada's Gnarliest Tree in Avatar Grove

Port Renfrew: Gateway to the West Coast Trail

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Here we are at the beginning of the famous West Coast Hiking trail; home to some of the best salmon and halibut fishing in British Columbia. A few hours earlier we had arrived at our destination, the Wild Coast Cottages in Port Renfrew. One of our neighbours quipped that these quaint wooden cabins are dubbed by other guests as ‘the Yuppy way of camping.’

Indeed, the fully equipped cabins with wrap-around deck, which are about the size of a hotel suite, are the only way I like to camp!The Wild Coast Cottages, which are located in prime fishing grounds and boasts the only deep water moorage available in Port Renfrew, is our home while we explore this community of 250 year-round residents. Imagine Tofino two decades ago and you might be able to picture Port Renfrew. It retains its rugged, natural beauty with its roaring surf along the Strait of Juan de Fuca … a perfect, and may I say, spectacular landscape for hiking, fishing, strolling the beach and unwinding!

After settling into our cabin, we meet up with our hiking guide TJ Watt, the passionate founder of Ancient Forest Alliance. We head out on a rough, windy road to Avatar Grove, home to ‘Canada’s Gnarliest Tree’. What a treat to stand beside a 150-foot tall cedar tree that dwarfs anyone and everything around it.

After our hike, we head to the eclectic Coastal Kitchen Cafe. It was highly recommended by TJ, locals and many of the other hikers we met along the way. The place was packed and buzzing with activity. The seafood is local, portions huge, and it’s a great spot to people watch. My partner Dennis and I would venture to say our meals were as good as anything we’ve had in Vancouver. We shared a carrot ginger soup and a side of prawns. Afterwards, I went for the salmon dill quesidillas while Dennis chose the halibut.

As darkness approached, we set out for a stroll along the nearby beach, gathering driftwood for an evening fire. Picture this scene: A nice bottle of red wine, a good read, a cozy fire and a sky filled with stars. It doesn’t get much better than this!

The next morning, bright and early Dennis quietly leaves me sleeping soundly while he meets up with Karl Ablack. The evening before, Karl had offered him a golden opportunity to go fishing with him. The only catch? A 5:30 am start.

At 5:30 a.m., the two set out to fish off of what the locals call East Point. The real name is San Juan Point, located off of Hammond Rocks. They troll out to 500 feet of water and drift west across Owen Point and set the down riggers. Across the straight of Juan de Fuca, Dennis tells me he could see the outline of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Within an hour they hook into two wild coho salmon, which they release. The next two bites were pink salmon that end up on our dinner table that evening. Karl tells Dennis that he often spots whales, sea lions and sea otters while plying the fishing grounds. It’s also not uncommon to spot a black bear or Roosavelt elk around the delta of the San Juan River.

Meanwhile I had met up with Rosie for a hike to Botany Bay. What a treat. We went down a trail constructed by the youth of the Pacheedaht and the T’Souke First Nations. It winds through the rich tidal pools and a shoreline filled with life … a natural jewel in the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park.

I feel in love with the simplicity and solitude of this magnificent place … Port Renfrew is worth the trip.

A Few Facts: 

Port Renfrew is located on the southern end of the West Coast Trail, a world famous hiking trail built in 1907 along the West Coast of Vancouver Island to save shipwrecked sailors. During the days of sail, from 1830 to 1925, 137 major shipping tragedies occurred in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. International recognition was given to the waters off Port Renfrew when it became known as ‘The Graveyard of The Pacific’.

Originally named Port San Juan, the settlers changed the name to honour Lord Renfrew who planned to settle crofters here.

In 2011, Port Renfrew came in 5th place in the World Fishing Network “Ultimate Fishing Town” competition.

Local population:

250 residents. Population expands ten-fold in the summer months with hikers, fishers, and campers.
Amazing natural spots: Avatar Grove, home of the Gnarliest Tree, and Botanical Beach are two of the most famous locations.
Trailhead of both the West Coast Trail and the Juan de Fuca Trail.

More Information:

Wild Coast Cottages: www.wildcoastcottages.com 

Coastal Kitchen Cafe: 1-250-647-5545

Ancient Forest Alliance: www.ancientforestalliance.org

 

Ancient Forest Alliance

Shaw TV: Avatar Grove & Eco-Tourism in Port Renfrew

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The Shaw Daily television program heads out to visit the popular Avatar Grove with the AFA and takes a look at how business owners in Port Renfrew are starting to embrace eco-tourism as a new economic driver.

Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFj9xWT8-0&feature=feedf

Avatar Grove

BC Government Takes Important Step towards Protecting Vancouver Island’s “Avatar Grove”

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For Immediate Release

July 25, 2011

BC Government Takes Important Step towards Protecting Vancouver Island’s “Avatar Grove”

The BC government has committed to take an important step towards protecting the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. On Saturday, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations publicly stated their commitment to designate the entire Avatar Grove off limits to logging through an Old-Growth Management Area (OGMA). The official designation of an OGMA will be pending the outcome of a public review period, the details of which will be announced in the future. 

“This is good news and is a great success for our campaign – but it’s not the final victory yet for the Avatar Grove. An Old-Growth Management Area is an important step forward and is essentially an interim protection that keeps away logging for now. It’s sort of like wearing a bear costume while foraging alongside grizzlies – you’re never really confident the protection will last,” stated Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder. “Ultimately the Avatar Grove will require stronger, more permanent legislated protection as a provincial park or conservancy. In the larger picture, of course, we really need an end to all logging of BC’s endangered old-growth forests, including an immediate ban on old-growth logging on southern Vancouver Island where almost 90% is gone.”

“It’s hard to believe how far, how fast, the campaign to protect the Avatar Grove has come in just a year and a half ago when I stumbled across this incredible stand of ancient trees. In a short time it has become all the rage for thousands of nature-loving tourists coming from far and wide. Avatar Grove has quickly become the ‘Cathedral Grove of Port Renfrew’,” stated TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer who found the Avatar Grove in December, 2009. “The Ancient Forest Alliance will continue working with the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce and conducting regular public tours until Avatar Grove receives legislated protection.”

Old-Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s) are regulatory protections in a category similar to Riparian Reserves, Wildlife Habitat Areas, and Ungulate (deer) Wintering Ranges and are not true protected areas. For the most part they prohibit logging, with some minor exceptions. They are established by the Ministry of Forests and can be quietly modified or removed by the bureaucracy or minister without any Legislative vote or debate. They do not show up on any highway maps, and are essentially out of sight and out of mind of the BC public. They do serve as important interim measures against old-growth logging when located in productive stands (ie. commercially valuable stands with large trees, as opposed to marginal, stunted old-growth stands where they are often located as well) and as stepping stones towards more permanent legislated protection.

Provincial parks, provincial conservancies, and ecological reserves on the other hand are legislated protected areas and therefore are stronger and more permanent than regulatory protections like OGMA’s. They are created through a majority vote of MLA’s in the Legislative Assembly – and therefore require a majority vote of MLA’s to be eliminated. They also usually exist on provincial highway maps, which fosters major public awareness, tourism, and environmental concern for their well-being. This makes it extremely difficult if not next to impossible to eliminate parks and legislated protected areas in BC these days, especially with today’s high level of environmental awareness.

The Avatar Grove is an exceptional ancient forest for many reasons. It has some of Canada’s largest trees, including scores of giant western redcedars – some over 4 meters (14 feet) wide, including “Canada’s Gnarliest Tree” with its 3 meter (10 feet) wide burl. It is easy to get to, being only a 15 minute drive from Port Renfrew mostly along paved roads. The Grove itself is found on gentle terrain in the valley bottom and lower slopes, most of which have been logged in southern BC. Virtually all other remaining old-growth stands are far along bumpy logging roads, on steep slopes. It is home to Vancouver Island’s largest wildlife species:  wolves, cougars, black bears, elk, and deer. Since the Grove was found marked for logging in 2010, thousands of tourists have come to meander among its mossy giants. The local Chamber of Commerce and businesses in Port Renfrew, Sooke, and Victoria are championing the Avatar Grove’s protection.

In March, former Minister of Forests Pat Bell stated that the BC government was considering devising a new legal tool to protect the province’s largest trees and monumental groves. See: https://16.52.162.165/b-c-looking-for-new-ways-to-protect-ancient-trees/

So far no announcement has been made about this designation or which unprotected groves will be protected.

“The BC government should be commended for committing to designate the Avatar Grove off limits to logging and to devise a new legal tool to protect BC’s largest heritage trees and groves. We look forward to the details of their progress on these initiatives,” stated Ken Wu. “However, most importantly, Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government fundamentally has a responsibility to undertake a much more comprehensive Provincial Old-Growth Strategy to end logging BC’s endangered old-growth forests because so little remains – it’s nuts to log until the end of the resource, especially when there is a major second-growth alternative now.”

See spectacular photo galleries of Canada’s largest trees at:

https://16.52.162.165/photos-media/

See “before” and “after” old-growth forest maps of Vancouver Island at: https://16.52.162.165/ancient-forests/before-after-old-growth-maps/

See the AFA’s “Largest Trees” series of 1 minute video clips:

– “Canada’s Largest Tree – the Cheewhat Cedar”: https://youtu.be/Xw2Im8nSOdg

– “Canada’s Gnarliest Tree – Save the Avatar Grove”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uPkAWsvVw

– “World’s Largest Douglas Fir – the Red Creek Fir”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfBWLVj-Xjg

– “Canada’s Largest Spruce – the San Juan Spruce”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lql9_hWuFLA&NR=1