Fighting to save the last of Canada's giant trees

John Zada

2017-05-11

Al Jazeera-Environment

Keywords: Ancient Forest Alliance, Big Lonely Doug, British Columbia, Cathedral Grove, Clayoquot Sound, Commercial Logging, Temperate Rainforests, Vancouver Island, Western Red Cedars

Vancouver Island, British Columbia – Canada‘s temperate rainforests, found on British Columbia’s Pacific coast, contain some of the largest trees in the world – after California’s redwoods and sequoias. The oldest of those trees are located in the southwest of the province where prodigious rainfall and mild winters allow relentless growth.

But more than a century of unrelenting commercial logging has placed primaeval old-growth forests – and the delicate ecosystems that thrive within them – on the cusp of extinction. Only a handful of the largest trees remain on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland areas of British Columbia.

The article "Fighting to save the last of Canada’s giant trees" by John Zada on Al Jazeera highlights the critical state of Canada's ancient temperate rainforests, which are being depleted by over a century of commercial logging. These forests, home to some of the world's largest trees, are primarily located on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Despite their ecological significance, only a few remain due to insufficient government regulation. Environmentalists and indigenous communities have led conservation efforts, resulting in the protection of areas like Clayoquot Sound and the Great Bear Rainforest. However, the logging industry continues to threaten these ancient forests. The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) advocates for ending old-growth deforestation and promoting sustainable logging practices, successfully protecting areas like Avatar Grove.

Key threatened areas include Eden Grove, Echo Lake, and Cathedral Grove. The article emphasizes the need for sustainable practices and community involvement in conservation efforts to protect these vital ecosystems.

Read more...

Tags: Environmental Sustainability, Forest Conservation, Indigenous Rights, Logging Industry, Old-Growth Forests, Sustainable Practices, Temperate Rainforests