After more than a decade of fighting to protect Vancouver Island's old-growth forests, Ken Wu will step down as campaign director for the Victoria branch of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee in January.

Wu said he plans to travel for a year, although if there's a federal election, he'll return to help with Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May's campaign.

May plans to run against Conservative cabinet minister Gary Lunn in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

"I am very impressed with her. She's the sharpest of the sharp," said Wu, who has never previously supported a political candidate.

In the meantime, the 36-year-old hopes to travel to southeast Asia, Latin America and eastern Europe.

"Fun, tasty food and awesome ecosystems," he said.

Before stepping down from WCWC, Wu will head to Copenhagen next month for the UN Climate Summit, where he plans to organize a forum on protecting temperate forests. An enormous number of non-governmental organizations will be converging on Copenhagen, he said.

During his time in Victoria, Wu has been a thorn in the side of the provincial government and has kept up a constant barrage of protest against logging of old-growth forests.

Campaigner Tara Sawatsky will take over Wu's position at WCWC. "She knows Vancouver Island's endangered areas. I have spent a lot of time training her," Wu said.

jlavoie@tc.canwest.com