AFA's Ken Wu and Joan Varley stand beside a giant old-growth Douglas-fir on unused DND lands along Ocean Boulevard in Colwood

Conservationists Call for the Protection of Endangered Ecosystems on Department of National Defence Lands

The potential sell-off of Department of National Defence (DND) lands reported by the Ottawa Citizen and the Canadian media recently is causing concern for conservationists who fear some of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems could be jeopardized by real estate development.   

Ancient forests in B.C. – Canadian Geographic Blog

On the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, just 15 minutes north of the historic logging town of Port Renfrew, an ancient old-growth forest named Avatar Grove gives visitors a glimpse of how the island’s trees may have looked 1,000 years ago.

Ken Wu of the Ancient Forest Alliance stops to look at Canada's Gnarliest tree in the Avatar Old Growth Forest near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island

Big trees boost tourism in West Coast town

Pink ribbons knotted to tree branches at the side of a gravel logging road mark the entry to an amazing earthly experience, something so different from anything most people have experienced it might be on another world. 

Move by Liberals to amend Forest Act draws criticism

The provincial government has introduced legislation to allow woodlot owners the right to remove their lands from forest management requirements and sell them while retaining their tenure on Crown lands, similar to a controversial move four years ago that allowed large forest companies the same right on Vancouver Island.

CTV News – Ancient Forest Alliance wins Benefit Brew contest

CTV News video of the Ancient Forest Alliance's win in the Phillips Beer "Benefit Brew" contest. The AFA will receive the sales proceeds from a custom, microbrewed beer called the "Ancient Brown Ale".

This label will be coming to a liquor store near you next month

Forest brews, mighty tasty

More good news for our friends at the Ancient Forest Alliance, who just won Phillips Beer’s “Benefit Brew” competition. Full proceeds (about $10,000) go to the AFA.

This label will be coming to a liquor store near you next month

And the benefit brew winner is: Ancient Forest Alliance

The alliance, a two yearold Victoria-based non-profit organization that works to protect old-growth forest in the province, was the clear winner of the competition that over a two-week period had the public vote for their charity of choice online.

Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder Ken Wu beside one of the Avatar Grove's biggest redcedars marked with the original logging survey paint.

Avatar Grove closer to being protected

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has drafted a proposal for an amendment that would add 49 hectares in the Avatar Grove area as an old growth management area (OGMA), and an additional 10.4 hectares in nearby Axe Creek, making them both off-limits to logging.

You can try out the new online game to help benefit the AFA while having some fun at www.wordraiser.com

Facebook game lets you solve anagrams to save Canada’s forests

True to its name, in order to play Donate2Play Media's first new game, Wordraiser, you're going to have to pony up some change. Wordraiser is an anagram game that has players make as many words as possible out of one word.

Canada's Gnarliest Tree in Avatar Grove

Port Renfrew: Gateway to the West Coast Trail

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.