Utopia Photo-blog

A recent trip to an area along the Gordon River less than 10kms away from the town of Port Renfrew  BC, exposed the recent cutting of massive old-growth redcedars. Multiple stumps from trees up to 15ft in diameter were found in a clear-cut at the base of Edinburgh Mountain. These trees can be upwards of 1000 years old and even though some may be hollow in the center, they are still healthy and able to grow for some hundreds of years more. The hollow centers can also play a key role in providing shelter for animals such as bears, cougars, deer, etc.

To date, Vancouver Island has lost over 75% of its productive old-growth forests including 90% of the valley bottoms, where the biggest trees and richest biodiversity are found. Its exactly this type of landscape - the flat, gentle, low-elevation terrain in which these giant stumps have been found. This area shows what is still allowed to happen throughout BC with the BC Liberal forest policy that denies old-growth forests are endangered.

Taking ancient forests with trees ranging at times anywhere from 1 day to 1000+ years old and converting them into second-growth tree plantations with typically an 80-100 year cut cycle does not replicate the original ecosystem structure. Old-growth forests typically exhibit much different characteristics such as rich understories due to the open canopies, well developed epiphyte colonies, standing dead wood and large woody debris on the ground, and 2-3 times better carbon storage.

The fact that in 2010 we are still finding fresh stumps such as the one above measuring 46ft around shows that government and industry are intent on taking BC's unprotected ancient forests right to the end of the line. A recent study in BC has shown that dipping below the 30% mark of intact old-growth habitat creates a high risk for species loss. To help make a difference in our endangered forests please visit the Ancient Forest Alliance - www.ancientforestalliance.org and sign the petition at www.ancientforestpetition.com You can also write a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell - premier@gov.bc.ca , Minister of Forests Pat Bell - pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca , and Times Colonist news editors - letters@tc.canwest.com

Map of the area. Note - Satellite photos show the area as still being forested since the trees were cut within early 2010.

On Tuesday, June 8th, I had the amazing opportunity to photograph a spectacular aerial art event put on to celebrate World Oceans Day. Close to 1,000 children came together in black-and-white T-shirts on the grounds of Rockheights Middle School to form the outline of a marbled murrelet -- a threatened species of sea bird that depends on old-growth forests for nesting.

Artist Daniel Dancer "painted" the background to complete the picture using soil, 200 white bed sheets and recycled blue jeans. We then ascended in boom lifts over 100ft above the ground to photograph the image from above. The image was later published in the Times Colonist.

The children participating in the event were absolutely wonderful! Everyone was super excited to be part of the bigger picture and raise awareness of the endangered species.

First Nation singers also welcomed and celebrated the event taking place in their traditional territory. Thanks to everyone who came together and made this such a successful day!

Just last week I stepped outside into my backyard and was treated to this most amazing display in the sky. I have seen halos around the moon before but nothing quite as beautiful as this. Multiple rainbows encircling the nearly full moon quietly floating in the air. Nature never fails to astound with her ever evolving magic and creation. And in an instant, will let it vanish into thin air.

An image I shot was published in the March.26th.2010 copy of the Vancouver Sun. It features an old-growth red cedar I helped discover that is being dubbed "Canada's Gnarliest Tree" growing along the Gordon River near Port Renfrew, BC. Its deformed shape comes from a type of fungus that causes the tree to contort and twist. I feel it resembles a nightmarish rabbit with its creepy paw down on the right side while others have suggested Jabba The Hut or even Elvis. It resides in a pocket of ancient forest filled with giant cedars and Douglas firs garnering it the name Avatar Grove. Unfortunately the entire area is flagged for logging by company Teal Jones. Link up to help protect this area on facebook: Save The Avatar Grove!  and visit the Ancient Forest Alliance.