Bring On the Drones

This past March, B.C. conservation photographer TJ Watt captured something incredible on camera: the ascent of three climbers up Canada’s second-largest known Douglas-fir tree. The tree, affectionately known as “Big Lonely Doug,” 216 feet high and 12.4 feet in diameter, stands in a clear-cut north of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island in a place known as Eden Grove.

Watt captured the climb using a DJI Phantom 3 Pro Drone. The video, made public in August, has already garnered more than 70,000 views on Facebook. The striking video is part of an emerging trend of using technology such as drones to bring more mainstream attention to environmental and wildlife issues.

“It’s a great way to bring to life these remote yet truly special areas, and bring them into people’s living rooms,” Watt said.

The climb, which was done by the Ancient Forest Alliance and Arboreal Collective, served several purposes: to highlight the grandeur of “Doug” using drones, bring awareness to the issue of logging and old-growth forests, and to document the climb for a cross-Canada book project celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbiW_Q2lCU

Read more: https://thetyee.ca/News/2016/11/12/Bring-On-Drones-Big-Doug/