The increasingly famous Avatar Grove old-growth forest has gained some political backing.
Pat Bell, minister of forests, mines and lands, announced in early February that pockets of ancient B.C. forests need more protection.
BellB次元官网网址檚 announcement came on the heels of a similar recommendation released by the Forest Practices Board, an independent advisory group for the B.C. government.
FPB recommended the government protect a section of trees in the Gordon River drainage area north of Port Renfrew. Environmental activists from Ancient Forests Alliance named the area Avatar Grove, after the popular 2009 sci-fi movie. The report issued by the FPB also references Avatar Grove in its document.
B次元官网网址淭his is just a recommendation,B次元官网网址� said TJ Watt, AFA cofounder and Metchosin-based photographer. B次元官网网址淯ntil concrete actions are taken there is still more work to be done.B次元官网网址�
The recommendation is based upon the 60-hectare area the AFA has been heavily promoting for more than a year. Ken Wu, AFA cofounder, said his groupB次元官网网址檚 work has certainly played a part in this.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e popularized it,B次元官网网址� Wu said. The areas discussed in the report, Avatar Grove and a nearby cut block, have been main focus of the AFA.
After receiving a complaint from an individual, the FPB recommended B次元官网网址渃ertain individual, or small groups, of exceptional treesB次元官网网址� at Avatar Grove could be more valuable if they are spared from logging. Watt introduced the complainant to the area.
In the recommendation, the FPB wants government, forest professionals and licensees to find creative ways to save these trees.
B次元官网网址淲e want supporters to flood the government (offices with letters),B次元官网网址� Wu said. B次元官网网址淚 am encouraged by Minister Pat BellB次元官网网址檚 statements, letB次元官网网址檚 see if he does good on them.B次元官网网址�
While the AFA approves of the recommendation its members think it still isnB次元官网网址檛 enough. B次元官网网址淭hey need to go further, we have so little of the productive old growth forest on Vancouver Island left,B次元官网网址� Watt said.
The report stated about 25 per cent of the area is already protected and the remaining land is available for logging.
B次元官网网址淭he overall feeling IB次元官网网址檝e got is most everyone gets it,B次元官网网址� Watt said. B次元官网网址淟ocal businesses get it, tourist associations get it, various politicians are taking stances on it.
B次元官网网址淥n Vancouver Island 75 per cent of the productive old growth forest has been logged. When so little remains you need to protect that.B次元官网网址�
Watt was exploring the Gordon River valley about a year ago to see what old growth remained, when he found what had been dubbed Avatar Grove.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately we found giant tree stumps instead of giant trees,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲e just started finding big tree after big tree. It boggled my mind that it was still there. Everything had been logged behind it, beside it and on all sides. I knew it had the potential to be the Cathedral Grove of Port Renfrew.B次元官网网址�
On a return trip Watt and Wu noticed the area had been surveyed with flagging tape and spray paint markings on the trees.
Watt speculated trees at Avatar Grove are still standing due to the attention the forest has received.
B次元官网网址淭here is a high chance that if no one had discovered it, it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be standing right now.B次元官网网址�
For more on the Ancient Forest Alliance, see www.ancientforestalliance.org.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
