B.C. environmentalist offers partier Paris Hilton visit old-growth forests

In her fight to save B.C. forests, local eco-warrior Tzeporah Berman has enlisted the help of a couple high-wattage Hollywood stars.

Berman, of Cortes Island, has invited actor Adrian Grenier and socialite Paris Hilton to B.C. to see the province's old-growth rainforests first-hand.

The long-time forest activist rubbed elbows with the Hollywood duo on the green carpet Thursday night at a private screening of The 11th Hour, a documentary on climate change produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.

"We talked about Canada's old-growth forests, specifically about B.C. forests and how beautiful they are," said Berman in a phone interview Friday, an hour after she arrived back in Vancouver from Los Angeles.

Grenier and Hilton were "very interested" in the state of the world's forests and forest ethics, she said. "[They] were very concerned to hear these forests are being used to make junk mail and catalogues."

Grenier, the star of the popular HBO series Entourage, was expected to attend the private gala at the Harmony Gold Theatre on Sunset Boulevard but Hilton's unannounced appearance created a stir.

Berman, a co-founder of ForestEthics who speaks briefly in the documentary about the impact of logging on global warming, is thrilled with the positive feedback her cause has received in Hollywood. "We're really excited in engaging with a greener Hollywood that can ensure the preservations of these forests."

She doesn't know whether the stars will take her up on her offer, but "we'll certainly inform them as we organize tours."

The private event, organized by Warner Bros. and ForestEthics was attended by about 400 people, including environmentalists, actors, lawyers, and politicians.

Advance screenings of The 11th Hour will be held in Vanco