Forest activists establish two new blockades near Port Renfrew urging the government to implement promised protection of endangered old growth

ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, a group of activists with Rain4est Flying Squad established a new blockade adjacent to the world famous Avatar Grove, to prevent road building into the south side of the Bugaboo Ancient Forest in Camper Creek on Pacheedaht Territory.

In the meantime another group of blockaders have now mobilized to protect valley bottom old growth forest south of Eden Grove in the Edinburgh Mountain Ancient Forest. They have set up a blockade on the bridge leading to Big Lonely Doug, the iconic Douglas Fir, the last tree standing in a clearcut on Edinburgh Mountain. This is in response to an application submitted by Teal Jones that would allow for the construction of a logging road into valley bottom old growth forest south of Eden Grove. All three current blockades will remain in place until the government moves to implement the 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review, beginning with the protection of the most endangered old growth forests. 

As the blockaders say, “these magnificent forests are worth more standing and we are determined to see that they do!”

Ancient Western Red Cedars in Eden Grove on Edinburgh Mountain

They are demanding: 

 1. That logging contractor Stone Pacific give up road building into old growth forests in TFL 46 and move their machinery to work on road networks targeting second growth.

2. That the Ministry of Forests decline the Teal Jones Group’s application for new road building on Edinburgh Mountain.

3. That the provincial government immediately implement the recommendations of the OGSR and end all old growth logging across British Columbia

4. The government immediately shift all forestry operations to sustainable management of the silvicultural land-base as a source of long-term employment in local and First Nations communities. 

Until these demands are met, the Rain4est Flying Squad will continue to disrupt the timber industry in its attempts to log the last of our old growth forests, while pressuring government to implement it promises.

Carole Tootil, Saul Arbess, Joshua Wright