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Reprint from Volume 28 Number 20 October 6, 2016 Old-growth clearcut found near

Photo: TJ Watt campaigner TJ Watt surveys the recent clearcut on Edinburgh Mountain.

onservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance and still intact Eden Grove. discovered on a recent hike that two clearcuts, of 16 and Edinburgh Mountain is one of the largest contiguous tract of 18 hectares, have been allowed in the old growth forests largely unprotected old-growth forest left on southern ofC Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew. Island, along with the nearby contentious Central The two cuts, a total of 34 hectres, took place at mid-elevation Walbran Valley. in an endangered species conservation area—inside the The valley is home to Big Lonely Doug and to the Eden designated Wildlife Habitat Area for the endangered northern Grove, which environmentalists have also nicknamed the goshawk. ‘Christy Clark Grove’ as a way of putting pressure on the premier The Ancient Forest Alliance also discovered that four new old- to protect the area. It is near Port Renfrew in Tree Farm Licence growth clearcuts are planned, one approved, and three pending 46, held by logging licencee Teal-Jones, in the traditional approval, for the area. An expansion road network is also territory of the Pacheedaht band. currently under construction on the mountain. Two of these ‘Edinburgh Mountain is one of the most significant and clearcuts are planned for the mountainside above Big Lonely impressive tracts of ancient temperate rainforest left in BC— Doug, ’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir tree, and the spectacular right in the heart of the region that has given Port Renfrew the

© Island Tides Publishing Ltd. This article may be reproduced with the following attribution, in its entirety, and notification to Island Tides Publishing Ltd. ‘This article was published (October 6, 2016) in ‘Island Tides’, an independent, regional newspaper distributing on the Canadian Gulf Islands, on and, via the internet, worldwide.’ Island Tides Publishing Ltd, Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 • 1-250-216-2267 • [email protected] • www.islandtides.com Reprint from ISLAND TIDES, October 6, 2016, Page 2 title as the ‘Tall Trees Capital of Canada,’ said TJ Watt, a photographer and campaigner with the Ancient Forest Alliance. ‘It’s up to the BC government to stop this and protect not only Edinburgh Mountain, but all of the remaining ancient forests on Vancouver Island because so little remains.’ 0

© Island Tides Publishing Ltd. This article may be reproduced with the following attribution, in its entirety, and notification to Island Tides Publishing Ltd. ‘This article was published (October 6, 2016) in ‘Island Tides’, an independent, regional newspaper distributing on the Canadian Gulf Islands, on Vancouver Island and, via the internet, worldwide.’ Island Tides Publishing Ltd, Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 • 1-250-216-2267 • [email protected] • www.islandtides.com