The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA)
is a British Columbian organization working to protect the endangered old-growth forests of BC and to ensure sustainable forestry jobs in the province. It was founded in January of 2010 and is run by BC environmental activists Ken Wu, TJ Watt, Joan Varley, and Hannah Carpendale. more ...
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Recent Ancient Forest News
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Comment: A new path for B.C.’s last great ancient stands
Times Colonist - Ken Wu, May 18, 2013
New maps of the remaining old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and the southwest mainland highlight the large-scale ecological crisis underway in B.C.’s woods.
The ecological footprint from logging millions of hectares of B.C.’s grandest ancient forests — an area bigger than many European nations — is at least on par with any pipeline or fossil-fuel megaproject.
[Full Story]
Maps show impact of overcutting old-growth forests, conservation groups say
Times Colonist - Judith Lavoie, May 14, 2013
New maps of B.C.’s forests put together by conservation groups using provincial government data show 74 per cent of productive old-growth forests has been logged and much of the remaining old growth is made up of small, stunted trees. On the valley bottoms, where the largest old-growth trees grow, 91 per cent has been logged, leaving only nine per cent of the classic old forest with iconic trees, the maps show.
[Full Story]
"The Good, the Bad, and the Wobbly"
The Green, Liberal, and NDP Platforms on Old-Growth Logging and Sustainable Forestry
Media Release, May 13, 2013
With a provincial election tomorrow, the Ancient Forest Alliance is summarizing the position of BC’s main political parties for its supporters.
[Full Story]
Whoever wins election needs to take early action on environment
Globe and Mail - Mark Hume, May 13, 2013
No. 4: Bring in legislation to make it illegal to cut any more giant, old-growth trees. The Ancient Forest Alliance alerted the public to plans to log the Avatar Grove, near Port Renfrew, saving it just in time. But the group is now warning the last of B.C.’s ancient trees will soon be lost unless something is done.
[Full Story]
Your election, your choice
Environment
Monday Magazine - Danielle Pope, May 11, 2013
“In many ecosystems of B.C., old-growth forest is incredibly scarce — 91 per cent of valley bottom ancient forest growth on the southern coast has been logged of the classic monumental trees. Are you willing to commit to fully ending old-growth logging in any regions or ecosystems of B.C.?”
[Full Story]
New Maps Highlight BC's “Crisis in the Woods” due to Old-Growth Logging
Media Release - Ancient Forest Alliance, May 10, 2013
New maps of BC’s southern coast highlight the ecological crisis in BC’s forests due to old-growth logging. The most conservative figures from the preliminary analysis of Vancouver Island and the southwest mainland reveal that at least 74% of the original, productive old-growth forests have been logged, including at least 91% of the biggest, best old-growth stands.
[Full Story]
Union joins environmentalists in call for stricter controls on raw log exports
Times Colonist - Judith Lavoie, May 9, 2013
The volume of raw logs exported from B.C. more than tripled between 2002 and 2012, prompting forestry workers to join with the Ancient Forest Alliance to push for more stringent log-export restrictions. During the last decade, 30,000 forest workers lost their jobs and more than 70 mills shut down, said Arnold Bercov, Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada forestry officer.
[Full Story]
Lawsuit aims to save endangered Douglas fir ecosystems on Vancouver Island
Times Colonist - Judith Lavoie, May 7, 2013
Environmental groups are suing the provincial government in hopes of saving the last remaining pockets of coastal Douglas fir forests on Vancouver Island. The groups are claiming that the province is violating its own laws, which are supposed to protect ecosystems from destruction.
[Full Story]
BC Liberal Government More Than Tripled Raw Log Exports to Foreign Mills
Media Release, May 7, 2013
“The BC Liberals have decimated the province’s forestry workforce through massive raw log exports, industry deregulation, and unsustainable practices. 30,000 BC forest workers lost their jobs and over 70 mills were shut down under the BC Liberals, yet they've allowed companies to cut at near record levels,” stated Arnold Bercov, national forestry officer of the Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada. “Under the BC Liberals, we lost both our forests and our jobs, it’s nuts.”
[Full Story]
Drop in Employment in BC's Forestry Sector
Ancient Forest Alliance, May 7, 2013
The following is a graph from Statistics Canada showing the steep decline in forestry employment levels in British Columbia that took place most dramatically during the reign of the BC Liberal Party from 2001 until 2013 (2011 is the last year shown in this graph).
[Full Story]
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