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.

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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.

Bugaboo Creek is found leading into the Gordon River about 10kms from Port Renfrew, BC. Parts of the hillsides are still covered with old-growth temperate rainforest but the land is part of  logging company Teal Jones’ TFL 46 and is being readily clearcut. Seen above is a stark example of the destruction these forests face. This clearcut was full of massive western red cedar stumps and roads that plowed through creeks and streams.

Industrial forestry has stripped Vancouver Island of over 75% of it’s original old-growth forests including 90% of the valley bottoms where the biggest trees and most wildlife are found. Without legislated protection from the BC government, these ecological treasures will continue to be transformed into scarred landscapes and replaced with second-growth tree plantations.

Hillsides stripped of their trees loose the capacity to hold rain-water and typically suffer from erosion and landslides. As the dirt and debris washes down the steep slopes it causes siltation in salmon rivers below and seriously degrades spawning grounds. Salmon populations have a number of stressors facing them in current times with this being another major factor.

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The Red Creek Fir, located just 30 minutes from Port Renfrew BC, is truly a feast for a big tree hunters eyes. Growing on a slope alongside the San Juan River Valley, the monolithic column of wood was recognized by early timber cruisers as being of considerably noteworthy size.  As it stands, it is the largest known living tree of its kind on earth!

The giant tree has some impressive measurements. It reaches 73.8m (242ft) tall, stretches 13.8m (43′7ft) around, and is 4.4m (14.4ft) across its base. The tree would have stood at least 90m (300ft) tall at one time before its top was blown off due to exposure to strong winds after much of the surrounding forest was logged. Most of its larger branches have suffered the same fate and lie scattered about the ground. Estimates of its age place the tree anywhere from 750 to 1000+ years old.

The BC government has virtually ignored the tree’s significance as a world class eco-tourism destination. Recently with the Ancient Forest Alliance I erected a new sign that I made showing the tree’s stats to replace the old government made sign which has laid rusted, broken, and ignored at the base of the tree for years. Local tourism operators have also now put up road direction signs leading you to the trail head. GPS co-ordinates for the Red Creek Fir are: lat=48.5790450649, lon=-124.22084

The trail leading up to the famous fir passes at one point a cluster of spectacular old-growth western red cedars. Three of these monsters sit inline with eachother and offer an impressive place to take a break.

The giant burls on the side of this cedar seem straight out of a fairytale fantasy land. Unfortunately, the ones on the lower right have had large chunks cut off of them in the past.

The Red Creek Fir has managed to survive century upon century throughout all conditions but it is still under threat from human activity. Logging company Timber West has recently laid out a cut-block within a few hundred meters of the record sized tree and includes in it some large old-growth cedars. The BC government also deems the site a Forest Recreation Area which actually offers no legislated protection. Finding a cut-block so near the tree also proves its ineffectiveness at protecting this world wonder.

If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact the following people and let them know what you think about a logging cut-block being placed so close by and if you would like to see legislated protection of the tree and surrounding forest buffer zone.

 Timber West: http://www.timberwest.com/about-timberwest/contact-us.aspx

BC Forest Minister Pat Bell: pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca  

On March 3rd 2010 members of the Dogwood Initiative and the general public made a powerful presence at the Royal Canadian Bank (RBC) on the corner of Fort & Douglas in downtown Victoria, BC. The issue being brought to light was that of the fact that RBC is the largest financial funder of the Alberta Tar Sands, contributing over $16 billion dollars to date in direct fossil fuel funding.

Environmental groups are asking RBC to take more responsibility with its large investments in dirty fuels and focus on shift to financing renewable resources.

Key requests in regards to the Tar Sands are;

1. To recognize the rights of indigenous communities to free, prior and informed consent  to industrial projects affecting their traditional territory.
2. To phase out client relationships with tar sands operators that are unable or unwilling to reverse adverse impacts on water quality and regional ecology.
3. For RBC to take a leadership role on fighting climate change by committing to measure and reduce its financed emissions over time.

An example of fishing for a deformed fish born with two mouths due to water pollution. The Alberta Tar Sands are considered to be the most environmentally destructive industrial project on the entire earth. Of the approximately 350 million cubic meters of fresh water used in production every year, at least 90-95% ends up being too toxic to be released and is stored in tailing ponds large enough to be seen from space. An estimated 11 million litres of this waste water leaks out everyday, poisoning wildlife and increasing cancer rates in nearby communities.

What can you do as an individual? Storing or investing your money with a bank with strong environmental principles is a great start! Every dollar counts! In Canada, Vancity is ranked #1 for these standards. If you are interested in how your bank rates, the carbon footprint of your savings, and how to change it, please visit this site: http://climatefriendlybanking.com/

Sunrise a few mornings ago proved to be a spectacular one here in Metchosin. Just off of Duke Rd is a small path leading to the ocean side which offers a great  panoramic view. The bay was filled with seals, sea birds, Herons, and even a Bald Eagle all awaiting the morning light to start their day.

An Arbutus tree growing on the small island is silhoutted against the glowing sky.

The Sun finally pokes up over the horizons clouds.

The waning crescent moon lingers high above giving way to the day.

If any one was lucky enough to catch this mornings sunrise, it surely was a  sight. I awoke at 7:15am and realized it was perfect conditions for a great sky and by 7:30am I was standing on the edge of the Pacific at Tower Point with the most magical scene in front of me. Nature truly knows how to put on a show when she wants too!

Waves lap the rocks after traveling however many thousands of miles away to get here just in time for the morning light.

The majestic Olympic Mountains dusted with little fluffy clouds.

Two big ships motoring through the sea of orange juice!

A Canadian Goose enjoyed bobbing through the surreal sunny glow.

And the new day is upon us!