Powell River Spotlight: Mt. Freda & Eldred Valley Ancient Forests

In September 2021, members of the Ancient Forest Alliance team travelled to Powell River on the west coast of BC to explore the ancient forests of Mt. Freda and the Eldred Valley and produce our second community spotlight video. The region, which is home to Canada’s oldest recorded trees, has been stewarded by the Tla'amin, shíshálh, Klahoose, and K'ómoks, First Nations since time immemorial.
It’s also been exploited by logging since the 19th century. But now, Powell River is starting to diversify its economy through outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities. With stunning, world-class climbing walls, rugged coastal forests, and towering red and yellow cedars, it’s no wonder many in the local community are determined to change the future of forestry and protect the region’s natural environment.
In addition to some exploration, we were fortunate to interview Erik Blaney of the Tla'amin First Nation, an advocate for the creation of Tribal Parks that protect old-growth in Tla’amin territory; Dr. Andrew Bryant, an ecologist with a lifetime of experience researching wildlife in coastal British Columbia; Christie Dionne, local climber and member of the Powell River Climber's Access & Development Society; and Jill-Marie Bronson, a recreationist and one of the founders of the qathet Old-Growth group.
According to new government old-growth maps released earlier this month, a number of at-risk ancient groves on Mt. Freda and in the Eldred Valley have been recommended for immediate logging deferrals. But political will and significant funding are still missing to support First Nations communities, such as the Tla’amin Nation, in establishing Indigenous Protected Areas that conserve old-growth while also supporting sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging.
Add your voice! Send a message to the BC government now, calling for urgently needed funding to defer AND permanently protect at-risk ancient forests: ancientforesta...
Thank you to Patagonia for supporting the creation of this film.
Video production by Wildland Media.

[@CanadianSledDog]

Great work! I hope this vision for quathet is fully supported by the BC govt, it's a wonderful place with so much potential it's hard to imagine a place like it even exists in this day. A place that needs to be protected!

[@JonRawlinson]

Extraordinary film! I truly hope one day the BC government will protect these exceptional old growth forests permanently! Keep up the brilliant work Ancient Forest Alliance team!

[@pattyjohnston2650]

Thank you for this beautiful, touching video and for all the Ancient Forest Alliance is doing.

[@jarrettbobbett5230]

Protect these Trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cardano4climate]

Thank you for this message... we are sharing it far and wide...

[@lucasvargas9197]

Great work. Thank you for bringing your truth forward. Much love.

[@thegrowingnetwork3409]

Beautiul, Thank you for saving these beautiful entties that are our world xx

[@nickmale4167]

well done

[@binnytheearthhero]

Beautiful video on such a critical topic.

[@malachiteholisticsbyshelle2669]

Beautiful message and well created to speak for these forests. Have you connected with philanthropists to donate?

[@arcticwanderer2000]

The Tla'min find six old growth trees on their traditional lands and respond by harvesting 1/3 now of them for canoes and saving the others for harvest by future generations. I don't know if I would call that being conservationists. Most of the rampant clear cutting that is taking place in the Powell River area is on Native Treaty Settlement Lands so I question whether they want to preserve the old growth in perpetuity or whether it will be for their use in the future.

[@АЛПИНА]

👍👍👍

[@breanned6881]

Tribal parks. Obvious but necessary to articulate. Sending protection energy ✨

[@donalddakota8069]

There is just no excuse for our governments, U S and Canada, not protecting what is left of the old growth from B C to Temagami. The timber industry wont even select cut lumber, just clearcut for profit. The export of raw lumber over seas must also stop, let them grow their own.

[@BCBeachcomber]

😭

[@manl6575]

is there any way to help you being i an spaniard living in spain?...my heart brokes with this