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

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