The Ancient Forest Alliance wants the BC government to purchase an unprotected old growth forest near the town of Port Renfrew. TimberWest, the land owner, says the grove is already in conservation status and they have no plans to deviate from this. Meanwhile, the BC government made changes to their annual allowable cut process that will facilitate “protection of unique or valuable trees”.

Elsewhere: drones are being used to assess the health of BC’s forests after the 2017 wildfire season; new firefighting aircraft are being purchased in Georgia; a fire expert says the status quo approach to fire management is not working throughout the US West; and Oregon State researchers say old growth forests that contain large trees and a diversity of tree sizes and species may offer refuge to some types of birds facing threats in a warming climate.

Finally, the US Supreme Court is hearing a case where the “government seeks to seize control of land it does not own, to protect an endangered species of frog that does not live there“.

Oh – and only seven sleeps left until Christmas!

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor