In November 2014, flagging tape was discovered by hikers in the unprotected portion of the Walbran Valley, in one of Canada’s most iconic and grandest old-growth temperate rainforests. The Ancient Forest Alliance’s TJ Watt and Jackie Korn went to investigate and found “Falling Boundary” and “Road Location” flagging tape in an area of the Central Walbran Ancient Forest, one of two largely-intact areas left in the Upper Walbran Valley (the other area being the nearby Castle Grove).
The flagged areas are generally to the southwest of the “Miller’s Monstrosity” clearcut, with some flagging on its north side as well. As of mid-November, 2014, logging licensee Teal Jones has not applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations for any cutting or road-building permits, and at this time appears to still be in its “survey and assessment” mode. Conservationists are calling for the area’s protection in a new provincial conservancy. The area is in the unceded territory of the Pacheedaht Nuu-cha-nulth people. Also included are photos of a 2013 clearcut by Teal Jones a few kilometres away, also in the Upper Walbran Valley. Photography by TJ Watt.
