Conservationists Measure Near Record-Size Cedar in the Endangered Central Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance have located and measured two huge western red cedar trees, one of which makes it into the top 10 widest red cedars in BC, in the endangered Central Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Tolkien Giant comes in as the 9th widest western red cedar in BC, according to the BC Big Tree Registry.
The Tolkien Giant has been tentatively measured at 14.4 metres (47 feet) in circumference or 4.6 meters (15 feet) in diameter, and about 42 meters (138 feet) in height. Another tree, the “Karst Giant” has been tentatively measured at 12.1 meters (40 feet) in circumference or 3.9 meters (13 feet) in diameter (no height measurement yet) and although it does not make the top 10, it is still an exceptional tree.
See photos online here: Ancient Forest Alliance
“In the giant trees and in the soil, the old-growth temperate rainforests on Vancouver Island store more carbon per hectare than even tropical rainforests do – and massive amounts of carbon are released when they are logged and converted into second-growth tree plantations, which will take 200 years of growth to re-sequester the lost carbon,” stated Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance executive director.
Not only are old-growth forests important for the climate, but also for tourism, endangered species, clean water, wild salmon, and many First Nations cultures. TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance
“Poor forest management and destructive logging are one of the largest greenhouse gas emissions sources in the province and at a time when Christy Clark is touting her climate change record in Paris, the province needs to come up with a science-based Old-Growth Protection Plan to save the endangered ancient forests of Vancouver Island and beyond.”
“Not only are old-growth forests important for the climate, but also for tourism, endangered species, clean water, wild salmon, and many First Nations cultures,” stated TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer. “The Central Walbran Valley includes the grandest ancient red cedar forests in all of Canada, in large part because the region has the finest growing conditions in the country. But its days may be numbered unless the BC Liberal government wakes up.”
The Tolkien Giant lies within a narrow and tenuous forest reserve (an Old-Growth Management Area), but logging is planned in the old-growth forest on the adjacent slope, including in the grove where the Karst Giant is found. The Karst Giant is found exactly on the boundary of a proposed cutblock and it is unclear whether or not it will be cut or left standing (but even if left standing, it would be exposed to being blown down by the fierce winter winds through the adjacent clearcut).
Ancient Forest Alliance
The Ancient Forest Alliance is a British Columbian organization working to protect the endangered old-growth forests of BC and to ensure sustainable forestry jobs in the province.
Website: Ancient Forest Alliance
Source Article: Ancient Forest Alliance, December 4, 2015
The source article contains more information on Ancient Forest Alliance’s calls on Premier Clark to Counteract Climate Change by Protecting Old-Growth Forests.
Related Posts:
Why Vancouver Island’s Walbran Valley Rainforest Matters
Drones used in BC Old-Growth Forest Conservation
Photo Credits
Featured Photo: AFA’s Ken Wu measuring the Tolkien Giant in the Central Walbran Valley.
Photo by TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance
Bottom Photo: TJ and Ken beside the Karst Giant in the Central Walbran Valley.
Photo: Ancient Forest Alliance
When I see these giants I begin to weep. They are our ancestors! Let them live.
Leave these magnificent trees alone. They give beauty to the eye and the environment.Those large trees of endurance in growing is a testament to the period of time to grow and the weather that they endured to survive.