tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38936693729923729642024-03-18T13:09:39.755-03:00Vancouver Island Big TreesGregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-48250134339524301512024-03-14T17:59:00.001-03:002024-03-14T17:59:07.345-03:00Putting More of Victoria's Sequoias On The Map<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"></span></p><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmygEUnc8S2yrVNmQMbKtaHOZV_h0u1z1jaxNxwvn54CK4Bmpt6LknHrx9gVtjR80iPU0bOwMxSzkC804_lLKFTdvUerDwh3dTYU8D1Wja3HWr38WhlwITeqw6D9x30MnnLX5j5eIYed5IUDX-NldCvxOqvmi7DX7Bg3yp1wTK0ZIyWHmfYh2Slz_q7sg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="600" data-original-width="402" height="1029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmygEUnc8S2yrVNmQMbKtaHOZV_h0u1z1jaxNxwvn54CK4Bmpt6LknHrx9gVtjR80iPU0bOwMxSzkC804_lLKFTdvUerDwh3dTYU8D1Wja3HWr38WhlwITeqw6D9x30MnnLX5j5eIYed5IUDX-NldCvxOqvmi7DX7Bg3yp1wTK0ZIyWHmfYh2Slz_q7sg=w690-h1029" width="690" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f5f6; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 36); color: #212124; font-family: "Proxima Nova", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">This giant sequoia is located at the corner of Moss and Richardson in Victoria, BC, <br />and may be the largest tree in the city.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">In the ten years I lived in the Victoria, BC area, the big tree hunter in me was blown away by the beauty of the massive urban sequoias. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">These trees are north of their usual range in California, but some have still managed to become large, eye-popping trees.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">I published a post about my project of mapping some of the trees I found so others could find and enjoy them, too. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That post,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"> </span><a href="https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2013/08/mapping-giant-sequoias-of-victoria-bc.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Mapping The Giant Sequoias Of Victoria, BC</span></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is the second most viewed post on our blog. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It also has more comments than anything else I have published here, as readers share their favourite Victoria sequoias over the years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A while back, a comment on that post alerted me to the work of other Victoria-based sequoia hunters that</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> have picked up on my mapping project.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">These big tree aficionados have found more than 350 of these trees in the Victoria area! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFJxmxejd8e2fX87w7K_At0Fh2_feXy0WnRsJGfS8-QKhRRodUsN5rI-az_gtdOG4adIIj5xr_Xftze3sq3KwUT2WwSvt5q5EUQwuc4jDp5ZPR_3nLZR0jYeT194Ykz_sKr_IK9Rc-vrdGSm7VYZEIZN3hul5J3M093yXTseycK8-TOC3HywYE2MYrec/s2048/9d42c7c0-506b-43ba-8ee7-2713ae5c7249.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1588" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFJxmxejd8e2fX87w7K_At0Fh2_feXy0WnRsJGfS8-QKhRRodUsN5rI-az_gtdOG4adIIj5xr_Xftze3sq3KwUT2WwSvt5q5EUQwuc4jDp5ZPR_3nLZR0jYeT194Ykz_sKr_IK9Rc-vrdGSm7VYZEIZN3hul5J3M093yXTseycK8-TOC3HywYE2MYrec/w620-h800/9d42c7c0-506b-43ba-8ee7-2713ae5c7249.jpg" width="620" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A giant sequoia in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Here is the comment they left on our blog:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.25px;">"Thanks to Greg's initial idea, this winter we have made an effort to identify as many sequoias in Victoria as possible while walking all around the city. </span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.25px;">We have actually found more than 350(!) of them (including a half dozen Coast Redwoods), much to our surprise.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The map showing all the sequoias we have found so far around Victoria is now online at:</span></span></p><a href="http://www.notonlynatural.com" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"></span></a></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><blockquote><a href="http://www.notonlynatural.com" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Not Only Natural website</span></a></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><blockquote><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We hope that people here will find it interesting/helpful. Yes it was a bit of work looking for them, but also quite enjoyable - and thought-provoking. </span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><blockquote><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Please have a look at the map and let us know what you think - and if you know of any sequoias we have not yet seen. (We haven't included dawn redwoods, just because they seem to be in a different category than the redwoods that naturally grow south of here.)</span></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Wow! Thanks to the good folks over at the <a href="http://www.notonlynatural.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Not Only Natural</span></a>. It is heartening to see t<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); letter-spacing: 0.25px;">he project I initiated continuing on and being expanded.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We also have to thank the good people of Victoria, BC and area that have commented here to share their favourite big sequoias, making this urban big tree project more fun and complete.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Please do take a look at the Not Only Natural website and map. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Is your favourite Victoria giant sequoia on it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 71, 79); color: #37474f; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><br /></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-89185014329302228662024-02-23T12:51:00.004-04:002024-02-23T12:59:29.188-04:00The World is Watching: Protect Old Growth Forests in B.C.<iframe frameborder="0" height="550" src="https://youtube.com/embed/EfyEYE650t8?si=ui4CJocEqZMFLOSv" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EfyEYE650t8/hqdefault.jpg);" width="850"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Myth: Old growth logging is a thing of the past.</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reality: Wrong</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">Tens of thousands of hectares of ancient forests are logged each year in BC, resulting in a huge climate and environmental footprint. </span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">In the past 150 years on BC’s southern coast – Vancouver Island and the southwest mainland – 75% of the original, productive old-growth forests have already been logged, including over 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow.</span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #241c15;">Click for more information at </span><a href="https://ancientforestalliance.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ancient Forest Alliance</span></a><span style="color: #241c15;">, which is leading the campaign to save what little old growth remains.</span></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">Thank you, AFA! </span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-size: 27px; font-stretch: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">Consider a donation while you are there. They need our help.</span></h3><p style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(36, 28, 21); color: #241c15; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p></div>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-2432841390318192502024-02-10T22:55:00.003-04:002024-02-17T12:55:20.694-04:00Forests For Life<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LlPzXavt3SJ1szTCtAcldv_rQ4lxiL72lGdKYUmBwVX3-ms66TT6MYwBIsSIqZaOyStwNUksDxjrh1CpozLFc9X4gziFJgvCEAigNlA7ibwrFzM2fw7oilBweaQVTRYUjhuSj_Gzk__sf0MCvY4je0f92BZkO0UU1PHBU8DO1H9LQ16nooTYu_X3Rn8/s524/Forest-Life.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="524" height="585" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LlPzXavt3SJ1szTCtAcldv_rQ4lxiL72lGdKYUmBwVX3-ms66TT6MYwBIsSIqZaOyStwNUksDxjrh1CpozLFc9X4gziFJgvCEAigNlA7ibwrFzM2fw7oilBweaQVTRYUjhuSj_Gzk__sf0MCvY4je0f92BZkO0UU1PHBU8DO1H9LQ16nooTYu_X3Rn8/w979-h585/Forest-Life.png" width="979" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">If we are looking for effective carbon sequestration, never mind feeble and overpriced industrial solutions. We need to look at a real leader in the sector.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">I am referring to forests. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Home to about 80% of the world's biodiversity, forests are collectively the <b>second biggest</b> storehouse of carbon after oceans, absorbing significant amounts of greenhouse gases. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="978" height="1001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJd2EiTsPDrr1fLJf7Ub-nDRsmfU7eoAYxs1QnQCp8o7wGi1g_-o4L1FbLljA6zvlYU9SfYKcjD5tggFONaayO-XAXlBOcjISIny1iQjIhJwgcrOJeYSpJ6OtLHcPy0jINEafORa_zIy3CsT3nl0IYJC6cbzLco7fudvUp4Lcu4zsbG0tq02xLpV3KEI/w750-h1001/frenchbeachcedarstump.jpg" width="750" /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">They also enhance biodiversity, while protecting waterways, enhancing soil nutrition, and providing buffers from natural disasters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">All of that, and they are beautiful places to live or visit. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">How dull life would be without trees and forests. And how different life would be. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some believe that civilization would have been impossible without trees. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">How sad it would be if we destroyed all the primal/old growth forests of the world, a task that is frighteningly close to completion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="976" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l1AEJ1JKB6lGCzuPpf7EJc6aIFf6DD0rmB3s2MiMLHCq0fhCIXuoq8UZC55MnkjpB5rGga8Ye1u2b6l0UWMlau_BuoSYXHCOgdm2Y0ntG1J0TXCGVDBco-iMkk-mrmysTBZaxDkvN0_IaN48qZF_uMzwYBk8Gtt9m50l-EFdbHQ74g1ungW887iKa58/w733-h976/100_6407.jpg" width="733" /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Not only are such forests living history books, but they are also carbon sinks that rival any kind of expensive human solution in industrial sequestration.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Once those forests are gone, they will take centuries, eons in some cases, to replace. And for what? A few jobs and temporary profits. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">How sad. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIZXWXIDgb2Bk-7n58tvG9K3EBQaPACtYRHO2iLKPyqCiJIqeeRlrideHBTcoieDsrK8hWvyXUmfvIz9UX85VaH3TFykFS1a-QMQpgrWT9NSTYXbLu0MTyw1GrtaXtgHkUYD01CeB39gab4BkGftyoMjqOFdXm54iC5RFMSFdhuspz5gxofTotLqzqoM/s1304/sookeriverancientcedar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1304" height="695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIZXWXIDgb2Bk-7n58tvG9K3EBQaPACtYRHO2iLKPyqCiJIqeeRlrideHBTcoieDsrK8hWvyXUmfvIz9UX85VaH3TFykFS1a-QMQpgrWT9NSTYXbLu0MTyw1GrtaXtgHkUYD01CeB39gab4BkGftyoMjqOFdXm54iC5RFMSFdhuspz5gxofTotLqzqoM/w927-h695/sookeriverancientcedar.jpg" width="927" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Considering their importance, we should show trees and forests respect and gratitude more often.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We should also do everything within our power to protect what little old growth that is left. It is those ancient forests that absorb and hold the most carbon, if that is to be one of our goals.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Protect forests and we retain one of our best ways of mitigating our effects on the atmosphere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Trees are our friends. Forests for life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-53121850524094761652023-12-23T17:42:00.003-04:002023-12-23T17:44:09.367-04:00Canada's New Largest Sitka Spruce - The San Jo's Smiley Tree<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD06YLRVKpBdxcT1AsVEV2tJGjHgHlynJ3x-BuVFSJDc011ENerkYWg3_GkeGEOOWouMTCcopndys3uRYkqRgpHlexzNLVtrGgZHvqCD2V7DrN7aWPv2OOxf4vT-bpHL0XMnWfSdE-19B76QHbkil0CzNCXxtJqOOTeQcFT120elSS_1AOXW-nvK-/s2268/o5Jj1Tg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="1814" height="1091" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD06YLRVKpBdxcT1AsVEV2tJGjHgHlynJ3x-BuVFSJDc011ENerkYWg3_GkeGEOOWouMTCcopndys3uRYkqRgpHlexzNLVtrGgZHvqCD2V7DrN7aWPv2OOxf4vT-bpHL0XMnWfSdE-19B76QHbkil0CzNCXxtJqOOTeQcFT120elSS_1AOXW-nvK-/w872-h1091/o5Jj1Tg.jpg" width="872" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">After the San Juan Sitka Spruce near Port Renfrew lost its top in 2016 due to a lightning strike, it lost enough volume to be demoted from its previous status as Canada's largest sitka spruce.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">So what is the largest Sitka spruce in the country now? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">According to BC's Big Tree Registry, the San Jo's Smiley tree found on northern Vancouver Island is now the largest sitka spruce in Canada.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Smiley Sitka is measured at 4.36 meters in diameter, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">and 77.8 m tall. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The girth of the tree, measured at a height of 1.30 m, is a whopping 13.69 m.</span></span></p><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">This is what bctreehunter21 on Instagram had to say about this special tree:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">"San Jo's Smiley, an exceptional Sitka spruce near Vancouver Island's Cape Scott, exceeds all expectations. While the tree's diameter of 4.36 metres is very impressive, it's the entirety of its mass that is most significant. The lack of taper is unique, and even 20 metres up its 77 metre trunk, the width looks to be close to 2.50 metres!" </span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It is, however, much harder to access than the San Juan Spruce. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The <a href="https://ancientforestalliance.org/largest-spruce-tree-in-canada/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Ancient Forest Alliance</span></a>, in announcing and celebrating the new champ on September 27, 2023, says it is "located near the San Josef River outside of Holberg in Quatsino territory." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">While isolated in an area that few venture into, it is still well worth the trip, I am convinced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">If you are on northern Vancouver Island in the Cape Scott region, and are feeling adventurous, definitely search out this amazing tree survivor.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">These massive remnant trees are worth infinitely more standing than laying on the ground to be chopped and hacked and insulted by petty, temporary human desires. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Cutting down trees that can live over a thousand years? When they are some of the last big trees of their type in the world?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">How rude.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">So it is incredible that trees, including the San Jo's Smiley Tree, still exist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We are keeping it that way. BC and interested parties are ensuring that we are moving forward on big tree and forest protection.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">That is great, because there are many more BC trees/forests worthy of protection that are currently at risk of being laid down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The San Jo's Smiley tree, Canada's new largest Sitka Spruce, is one of the at risk trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It has no legal protection.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-62918010115908479882023-03-27T16:50:00.001-03:002023-03-27T18:28:01.920-03:00San Juan Sitka Spruce Update<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyI2kWKdzQKrPM1dehJV3GkkoHWlsGf9mCq2S1iOuxwx9tm3ztHxRwViV4WXky7UAlV6l1oP7Ia3omjW7S69gceL4Xa-JL_tm0sPKbN3PbZunkQGL4ZCiSC6MXj9J0gnIWlvMRMf2V9JFh49snA2onjACg6FeozOJRCnH2W_pbDnyTca9aet_I8LT/s3008/San_Juan_Spruce_at_San_Juan_Bridge_Forestry_Recreation_Site.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3008" data-original-width="2000" height="997" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyI2kWKdzQKrPM1dehJV3GkkoHWlsGf9mCq2S1iOuxwx9tm3ztHxRwViV4WXky7UAlV6l1oP7Ia3omjW7S69gceL4Xa-JL_tm0sPKbN3PbZunkQGL4ZCiSC6MXj9J0gnIWlvMRMf2V9JFh49snA2onjACg6FeozOJRCnH2W_pbDnyTca9aet_I8LT/w664-h997/San_Juan_Spruce_at_San_Juan_Bridge_Forestry_Recreation_Site.jpg" width="664" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">San Jan Sitka Spruce, photo by <a href="<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Juan_Spruce_at_San_Juan_Bridge_Forestry_Recreation_Site.jpg">Tim Gage</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons" target="_blank">Tim Gage</a> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The San Juan Sitka Spruce was the largest Sitka spruce on record in Canada, but is no more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Reports are that this massive record-breaker lost part of its top to a lightning strike sometime in 2016, and it was enough to strike it from the top spot as the most massive sitka in the country.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">However, this Sitka spruce that grows on Vancouver Island alongside the San Juan River 35 minutes from Port Renfrew, remains a visit-worthy big tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It was previously listed at 38.3' in circumference, 205' tall, with a crown spread of 75', containing 333 cubic meters of wood by volume.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The height is now measured at 198' instead of 205', and the difference means it has lost enough mass to remove its distinction as Canada's largest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">So what is the largest Sitka Spruce in Canada after the San Juan tree's fall from top spot?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We will cover the new record breaking tree in a future post.</span></p><p><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(1, 73, 128, 0.05); caret-color: rgb(28, 28, 28); color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Read more about Canada's <a href="https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2010/10/san-juan-spruce-canadas-largest-sitka.html"><span style="color: red;">former largest sitka spruce here</span></a>, including directions to see the tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">And remember, when visiting big trees, take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing but foot prints. I always try to leave any site I visit in <i>better</i> shape than when I arrived.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-42490427221086973892022-09-10T20:34:00.003-03:002022-12-16T13:07:03.489-04:00Old Forests Are Worth More Standing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAjHmHWtXGk4RP64hjHdjEX6-50jqFNvJya9KtQ3IrQpOrtAsD1MUd_MmqepfAw4VKXBN9t-2hdkVOkD3qUH5mH1rNzq4FiCHtVrauO6lc_AaEkajHxzxPTo0n_nMqOA7c3JYupPGXv3zHu53Vk5oUKwoMeQyCoLmKpNc4gfgKNzfdcGLnmFsq8mB/s850/flor-del-bosque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="850" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAjHmHWtXGk4RP64hjHdjEX6-50jqFNvJya9KtQ3IrQpOrtAsD1MUd_MmqepfAw4VKXBN9t-2hdkVOkD3qUH5mH1rNzq4FiCHtVrauO6lc_AaEkajHxzxPTo0n_nMqOA7c3JYupPGXv3zHu53Vk5oUKwoMeQyCoLmKpNc4gfgKNzfdcGLnmFsq8mB/w768-h470/flor-del-bosque.jpg" width="768" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">In most forested places in the world logical thinking people have come to the conclusion that some trees are worth more when left standing in ecologically intact forests.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puebla, Mexico is one of those places saving forest habitat for the many irreplaceable benefits they accrue to humans and other living things.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); clear: left; color: #404040; font-family: "Noto Serif", serif; font-size: 3.4rem; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1,500-hectare park in Puebla designated natural protected area</h1><h2 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: "Noto Serif", serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="subhead" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "PT Sans", serif; font-size: 2.2rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 20px 0px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The declaration shields the area from real estate development </div></h2><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; margin: 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="date" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published on Friday, July 15, 2022 </div></div><div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 20px 0px 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="essb_links essb_counters essb_displayed_top essb_share essb_template_default4-retina essb_964579239 print-no" data-essb-button-style="icon" data-essb-counter-pos="hidden" data-essb-fullurl="https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/puebla-park-natural-protected-area/" data-essb-instance="964579239" data-essb-position="top" data-essb-postid="188632" data-essb-template="default4-retina" data-essb-url="https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/puebla-park-natural-protected-area/" id="essb_displayed_top_964579239" style="border: 0px; 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-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: padding-box; background-color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; background-image: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px -4px 0px inset; box-sizing: content-box; color: #9f81f7; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1em; margin: 2px 5px 2px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition: all 0.2s linear; vertical-align: middle;" target="_blank" title="Share on Print"><span class="essb_icon essb_icon_print" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: none; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 400; height: 36px; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;"></span></a><span class="essb_counter_hidden" data-cnt-short="" data-cnt="0" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li><li class="essb_item essb_totalcount_item" data-counter-pos="hidden" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "PT Sans", serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1em; list-style: none !important; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: middle;"><span class="essb_totalcount essb_t_r_big " data-shares-text="shares" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><span class="essb_t_nb" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">46<span class="essb_t_nb_after" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 10px; margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">SHARES</span></span></span></li></ul></div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Flor del Bosque park, located southeast of Puebla city, has been declared a natural protected area, the state government announced on Thursday.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This will mean that the park’s 1,501 hectares will be off-limits for real estate development and other kinds of new settlement, and that the communities already living on the land will be obliged to participate in its sustainable use and protection.</p></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/puebla-park-natural-protected-area/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Read more here</span></a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-88138505484825824882021-12-19T20:46:00.000-04:002021-12-19T20:46:17.487-04:00More Tree Advocates Needed<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6agt1zfIaiiaKYJCIfoL5FWhqM1o8XvK0dGWncD__fMfew3zAtgA_K48b_rihbsslBc6PWCNs2Lo2dcWN5Yqu7NUdcBK4_4KJP7s5ANW6YQKG1CSuRxqvqb5mgnfkG3xkQwI1Lg8_5naWlEp6WYPPoCqpVdFuJh-N-o9UUMxpE0tWk1zMFSm2eGCI=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6agt1zfIaiiaKYJCIfoL5FWhqM1o8XvK0dGWncD__fMfew3zAtgA_K48b_rihbsslBc6PWCNs2Lo2dcWN5Yqu7NUdcBK4_4KJP7s5ANW6YQKG1CSuRxqvqb5mgnfkG3xkQwI1Lg8_5naWlEp6WYPPoCqpVdFuJh-N-o9UUMxpE0tWk1zMFSm2eGCI=w590-h786" width="590" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">"Every tree has its enemy, few have an advocate. In all my works I take the part of trees against all their enemies."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large;">- JRR Tolkien</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">With the state of our forests in Canada and around the globe, we could use more tree advocates. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">There are many today who are doing a wonderful job of protecting the old growth for future generations to enjoy, and I thank them all from the depths of my tree-loving heart. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">But they need our help, and they need it soon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The world needs all of us to advocate for the trees. Because they can't advocate for themselves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The big trees have their enemies that must be stopped. Consider becoming an advocate before all the old growth is gone.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-88069903074224197402021-11-30T22:36:00.000-04:002021-11-30T22:36:38.331-04:00BC Floods and Clearcut Logging
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ZJhgwVs73g4" width="800"></iframe>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The discussion following record-breaking rains and floods in British Columbia include speculation about the effects of fires.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">We should also be wondering about the effects of unprecedented levels of damaging logging practices.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">In the future, will logging companies be sued for their negligence?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/605763146?h=f2207dc8e7" width="800"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/605763146">Water Logged | new ending</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/ramshackle">Ramshackle Pictures</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-26536637792423237772021-09-23T22:38:00.001-03:002021-09-26T09:37:29.784-03:00Big Tree Art by Hasui Kawase<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDnF4P1iql0/YU0oNOXYjSI/AAAAAAAARRk/qnYapPyLVz0l6IS-_wSANKKP81tWholtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/ded1a997c262e4d57254fefaeeca06db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="632" height="1067" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDnF4P1iql0/YU0oNOXYjSI/AAAAAAAARRk/qnYapPyLVz0l6IS-_wSANKKP81tWholtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w702-h1067/ded1a997c262e4d57254fefaeeca06db.jpg" width="702" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moon at Megome</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(73, 73, 73); color: #494949; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">from the series <i>Twenty Views of Tokyo, 1919-1921</i></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9SdSKsEDYg/YU0rP_abz9I/AAAAAAAARRs/oYdBMfzzBZcnKXh-pzBit5v_CL7EGwzNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/710px-Nikko_kaido_hasui_kawase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="710" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9SdSKsEDYg/YU0rP_abz9I/AAAAAAAARRs/oYdBMfzzBZcnKXh-pzBit5v_CL7EGwzNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/710px-Nikko_kaido_hasui_kawase.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; text-align: start;">Nikkō Kaidō</i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; text-align: start;">, 1930.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-21198212104879296712021-06-04T17:59:00.000-03:002021-06-04T17:59:24.199-03:00There Goes The Last Dodo<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JwwWKZ48zs/YLnxzlO7BMI/AAAAAAAAQ5g/n65VbifBafY-GPA2luLBMdbcNDeLs6RHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s780/tree-on-truck-that-lorna-beecroft-snapped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="532" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JwwWKZ48zs/YLnxzlO7BMI/AAAAAAAAQ5g/n65VbifBafY-GPA2luLBMdbcNDeLs6RHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w782-h532/tree-on-truck-that-lorna-beecroft-snapped.jpg" width="782" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A big tree is not just a big tree. It is an entire neighbourhood. The human equivalent would be a residential skyscraper. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Imagine if someone cut one of them down just because harvesting big buildings was profitable.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Where would the people that live there go? Or the people that work there?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When we see a big tree, or any tree, going down the highway on the back of a truck we should say,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">"There goes the neighbourhood".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Each old growth tree is a community of millions of different organisms large and small.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Some can't live anywhere else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Where are they to go?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A recent photo taken on Vancouver Island of a single, large sitka spruce trunk on a logging truck went viral. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The large tree looks like it could be about 800 years old, give or take 200 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Many people that saw the photo were shocked that we still do this kind of thing when so much of the ancient forest is gone. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Over 90% of the oldest and best stands have already been logged in BC. It makes one think they will not be satisfied until they get as close to 100% of the big trees as possible. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">As soon as possible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One day we will view decimating entire ancient forest communities that have thrived harmoniously for 10,000 years as barbaric and tragically old fashioned. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We will look into how they got away with replacing the great mass of 10,000 year old forest with tree farms on 80 year rotations, with the big trees never to be seen again outside of small parks and areas they haven't ruthlessly exploited yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">That day of reckoning may be coming sooner than they think if the reaction to the viral photo of that formerly beautiful spruce tree on the back of a logging truck is any indication.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It can't come soon enough for a great many, and growing, number of us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-58963709143508560292021-05-30T22:57:00.007-03:002021-05-30T22:58:18.395-03:00Forest Creatures: Hummingbirds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX7y-s2M_g8/YLQ8YutslBI/AAAAAAAAQ4g/HzTXWHR8sNIdTFJSluaqSsN03yV3fr8agCLcBGAsYHQ/s714/101_5643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="714" height="714" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX7y-s2M_g8/YLQ8YutslBI/AAAAAAAAQ4g/HzTXWHR8sNIdTFJSluaqSsN03yV3fr8agCLcBGAsYHQ/w714-h714/101_5643.jpg" width="714" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Every May the hummingbirds return to our area, and every May our feeder is out to greet them. Because of these busy, tiny birds, it is a joyful time of year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The males come back first, setting up territories that they vigorously defend. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our feeder can be seen from our kitchen sink, and when we are cooking or doing dishes there is endless entertainment just outside our window.</span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is said that hummingbirds open the heart. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we connect with hummingbirds, we delight in the sheer joy of living. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is a wonderland of sensuous delights, and we exist in its beauty, delighting in spring flowers, aromas, early sunrises, and the taste of fresh wholesome foods. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span>Hummingbirds remind us to laugh and enjoy creation, to a</span></span><span>ppreciate the magic of being alive and the beauty of nature all around us.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sure the world can be a messed up place, but that should not blind us to the infinite beauty around us at all times.</span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the vision, and gift, of heart-opening Hummingbirds.</span></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-37297538013546615862021-05-03T12:58:00.001-03:002021-05-03T12:58:25.692-03:00How I Go To The Woods<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOOrgp7Rx90/YJAdfCln40I/AAAAAAAAQ2A/eg2gNR-u_YsnGMqDc9nyoUion6KZor_xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/101_0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="574" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOOrgp7Rx90/YJAdfCln40I/AAAAAAAAQ2A/eg2gNR-u_YsnGMqDc9nyoUion6KZor_xwCLcBGAsYHQ/w765-h574/101_0185.jpg" width="765" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFlrX-fHfDA/YJAdNT3rIRI/AAAAAAAAQ14/k9usNlMX0rgmffjSBTKZKBAGEMJT2gQ-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1519/232c331eed2b88a8d03ffa43f1692aa5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="564" height="990" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFlrX-fHfDA/YJAdNT3rIRI/AAAAAAAAQ14/k9usNlMX0rgmffjSBTKZKBAGEMJT2gQ-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w368-h990/232c331eed2b88a8d03ffa43f1692aa5.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-51361974675607492892021-04-22T00:05:00.000-03:002021-04-23T00:06:59.203-03:00Razing Old-Growth Forests<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYjOdQ1efCY/YII47a5QWMI/AAAAAAAAQ0U/mpfPo2LeDcoW28LOFn3SFKUnNNZ60Z9TACLcBGAsYHQ/s1038/118010588_3326077787486785_46446031251833514_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1038" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYjOdQ1efCY/YII47a5QWMI/AAAAAAAAQ0U/mpfPo2LeDcoW28LOFn3SFKUnNNZ60Z9TACLcBGAsYHQ/w758-h422/118010588_3326077787486785_46446031251833514_o.jpg" width="758" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(35, 35, 35);">The razing of an old-growth forest is not just the destruction of magnificent individual trees – it’s the collapse of an ancient republic whose interspecies covenant of reciprocation and compromise is essential for the survival of earth as we’ve known it."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(35, 35, 35); font-family: verdana;">- </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: verdana; text-align: center;">Ferris Jabr</span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why isn't razing old growth forests illegal yet? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With very little left globally, it will be too late if we don't take immediate action.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The destruction of our old forests will go down in history as one of humanities greatest blunders, and a major cause of our eventual extinction.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is a crime against this planet and all life on it.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">And for what?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">A couple of hundred years of profit?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Sad Earth Day, everyone.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-63594005060335680292021-01-30T09:01:00.001-04:002021-01-30T09:02:57.875-04:00MicroArk Project Invitation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UO_6IDsoEAk/YBVWf_wMb3I/AAAAAAAAQns/BlEV8lfm7v0LfG_oF4irm7prbNKaXtIaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/100_4295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="734" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UO_6IDsoEAk/YBVWf_wMb3I/AAAAAAAAQns/BlEV8lfm7v0LfG_oF4irm7prbNKaXtIaACLcBGAsYHQ/w550-h734/100_4295.JPG" width="550" /></a></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">An interesting comment was left here a few days ago. I am posting it to reach a wider audience because it sounds like an amazing opportunity to imagine and implement projects to make a difference. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">MicroArks! I love the sound of that.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Hi there! </span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm lucky enough to have access to quite a number of native tree seedlings on an East Sooke property. The ones easiest to transplant are between 1-4 yrs old.<br /><br />There are Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Spruce, Alder,and Broad Leaf Maple in various quantities.</span></span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Also, Salal, Oregon Grape, Huckleberries, Ocean Spray, Salmon and Thimble Berries,and more.<br /><br />At a Victoria location there are Garry Oaks, Arbutus, and Snowberries. <br /><br />There's also some duff infused with Mycorrhizal fungus and epiphytic moss, lichen and liverworts to innoculate the replanting sites. <br /><br />I'd really like to find carefully considered locations for replanting and long term care.<br /><br />I transplanted about 50-60 with a small group of mostly kids a year ago but a repeat didn't happen due to Covid 19.<br /><br />I'm hoping to connect with any people interested in some small scale, responsible, replanting collaborations in the next few months. Or even to simply discuss the concepts and processes involved.</span></span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><br />I feel we need to establish some "MicroArks" consisting of groups of trees and their associated flora and fauna that are carefully considered and cared for.<br /><br />They will provide examples to be replicated thus beginning the regrowth of truly natural forests for perpetuity.<br /></span><br />Thanks for your interest!</span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Paul Winstanley</span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Spectrafocus</span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">20/1/21</span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; text-align: left;">paul@spectrafocus.ca 250-899-9285 </span></span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="comment-content" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></p>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-29984073008376751782020-08-22T23:34:00.000-03:002020-08-22T23:34:19.061-03:00Standing Up For Big Trees In Fairy Creek Valley<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kBnhktwJIo4" width="700"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">"If you wanna see real change, you're gonna have to stand up for it."</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">- Old growth protector at roadblock camp</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Old growth forest protectors are standing up for big trees near Port Renfrew (Big Tree Capital of Canada) and blockading the construction of new logging roads into Fairy Creek Valley, the last pristine valley outside of a park on southern Vancouver Island.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a saner world we would not allow the destruction of such a treasure on Vancouver Island's south coast. But we don't live in a sane world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When those that work for us in government fail in their responsibility to protect what is collectively ours, it is up to us to be the real stewards of the land, and protect its inherent right to be. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If our public servants in government won't speak for a voiceless and defenceless nature, we have to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Case in point is what is happening outside of Port Renfrew, town to an area long known for its (disappearing) big trees. There, just a few kilometres outside of town, Teal Jones is hacking through previously unhacked forest on their way to get to a pristine valley of big, ancient trees. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The valley contains an ancient forest that has existed, relatively unchanged, since the last ice age, 10,000 years ago. It is a unique, irreplaceable ecosystem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the ancient yellow cedars there could be upwards of 2000 years old. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cutting trees that old in 2020, when we know better, should be an obvious crime against nature, and all around excellent example of the ongoing ecocide currently plaguing our planet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Show me nature that has been preserved and protected from industrial butchery, and I will show you a scrappy, dedicated group of caring people that put their bodies on the line to do what is right.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was such citizen groups dedicated to direct action that saved places like Clayoquot, Elaho, Stein Valley, Carmanah, Strathcona Park, and so many more beautiful places.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Respect, and a heartfelt thanks, to everyone on the Fairy Valley logging road blockades.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We appreciate you standing up for some of the last remaining old growth on south Vancouver Island. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We support you 100%.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-24378139907109021972020-08-15T23:24:00.001-03:002020-08-15T23:24:18.889-03:00Big Trees Matter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJS6RQtWKws/WsZjlFO28DI/AAAAAAAAOBQ/WOwazQpa9gUCiZuytYUn1RUIRxS74OWRACLcBGAs/s1600/16387383_1390255771024484_823930771229798380_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="500" height="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJS6RQtWKws/WsZjlFO28DI/AAAAAAAAOBQ/WOwazQpa9gUCiZuytYUn1RUIRxS74OWRACLcBGAs/w660-h800/16387383_1390255771024484_823930771229798380_n.jpg" width="660" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Big trees are miracles of nature, and should be protected and preserved as such.<br />
</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the past we cut gigantic, century (or eons) old trees, sometimes for firewood. We didn't know as much back then as we know now, but how could a person even back then not have reverence for such a tree upon meeting it for the first time?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who among us, upon seeing one of these incredible beings for the first time, would think, "I want to cut that down"? Even back then it seems odd to a tree enthusiast like myself.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One would think that such miracles of nature would instead be celebrated, honoured, revered, protected and preserved for the miracles that they are. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some people and cultures had that approach back then, and still do. In the west we don't (with "we" being non-indigenous residents), or at least we don't enough to stop their destruction once and for all. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We continue to fell the largest ancients that remain. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some is still used for firewood, while old growth fibre ends up supplying ass wipe to the pandemically panicked. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who among us today, with what we know about our depleted forests globally, thinks that razing the little old growth that is left benefits people and the planet?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The big trees that are left, wherever they exist on Earth, deserve to be protected and preserved in perpetuity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Isn't that what most of us (that don't profit from their destruction) really want?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Big Trees Matter.<br />
<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-8483966612213886802019-08-14T22:48:00.000-03:002019-08-14T22:48:11.312-03:00Declaring A Forest Emergency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FwJyPLXHEuw/XVSzRHVJ1xI/AAAAAAAAPZs/dSl2Rq_wtGEgOGp5RTtCZBfJN8VPjE2bQCLcBGAs/s1600/WWF_Tierbstaende_Report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="770" height="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FwJyPLXHEuw/XVSzRHVJ1xI/AAAAAAAAPZs/dSl2Rq_wtGEgOGp5RTtCZBfJN8VPjE2bQCLcBGAs/s640/WWF_Tierbstaende_Report.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this late stage in our ongoing global environmental emergency, the continued cutting of old growth forests in BC (or anywhere) should be considered a crime against humanity. </div>
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We are losing the forests and we are losing the forest creatures. We are losing the soil and the sea, and the atmosphere. All life is in peril. </div>
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For what? Short term profit, another successful election win, unmitigated greed.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Forests are complex systems that depend on the wildlife that live in them to keep them healthy, and the rapid decrease in forest wildlife in recent decades is an urgent warning sign.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Forests are our greatest natural ally in the fight against climate breakdown. We lose them at our peril.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“We need global leaders to declare a planetary emergency and kickstart a global programme of recovery to keep our forests standing to protect our planet.”</span> </blockquote>
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- Baldwin-Cantello, WWF forests specialist</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-08/BelowTheCanopyReport.pdf" target="_blank">"Below The Canopy"</a> here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-65670615645010796922019-06-03T12:35:00.001-03:002019-06-03T12:37:05.997-03:00The Money Huggers Want All The Old Growth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T2oY7Kj6ZY/XMS5Sq_NeCI/AAAAAAAAPK8/OMcJH2clnmsJsdEYiYRMMNtBskf9wb6zQCLcBGAs/s1600/58378912_10215842200100802_5899863228665561088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="657" height="604" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T2oY7Kj6ZY/XMS5Sq_NeCI/AAAAAAAAPK8/OMcJH2clnmsJsdEYiYRMMNtBskf9wb6zQCLcBGAs/s640/58378912_10215842200100802_5899863228665561088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How much of Canada's old growth forests do the money huggers want to cut down? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of it. Each and every massive, ancient, beautiful tree, wherever it may be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where we see dendrological miracles, they see only bags of cash. They want to convert all the old growth to those bags that they clutch to their chests as they chuckle maniacally in the wreckage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And they will get all of it, if we don't stop them. And we can, if we want to bad enough, stop them. They are, after all, our trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A recent example of our power to save the old growth concerns the sale of remnant old growth forests near Port Renfrew. No one, other than the money huggers, thought it was a good idea, and said as much quite loudly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The NDP/Green government, that never should have put the old growth up for sale in the first place, have relented, and the auction never took place. For now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The cashoterrorists will be back, though. They will keep on coming until all the old growth is gone, or until we get up off our couches and stop them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What happened in the Port Renfrew forest shows that more of us are up and ready to fight for what is left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tree hugging, good. Money hugging, not so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-6295426660956765652019-04-16T15:23:00.000-03:002019-04-16T15:23:25.579-03:00Save BC's Old-Growth Forests<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HTwSJAA35U/XLOGJqURO1I/AAAAAAAAPIw/R2eFh4aoVLwxDLu2F2xWT4F2w7M2VSqDgCLcBGAs/s1600/56751284_2349129875119285_3296756019543146496_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HTwSJAA35U/XLOGJqURO1I/AAAAAAAAPIw/R2eFh4aoVLwxDLu2F2xWT4F2w7M2VSqDgCLcBGAs/s640/56751284_2349129875119285_3296756019543146496_n.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More government lies in order to gift Canada's largest, irreplaceable trees to logging interests.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I started this blog 10 years ago it was born out of my love for BC's big trees, and my desire to see them all protected. A decade later and they are as imperilled as ever, regardless of which government party is "managing" them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today the NDP government talks of "sustainable harvesting in old growth forests. I assume, therefore, that they have a viable 1,000 year plan for these trees, because that is the only way you could do a sustainable harvest in ancient forests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Currently cut areas in BC's forests are slated for being re-logged in a 30 to 80 year cycle. How does this sustain the old growth? It does not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trees and forests aren't even recognized as old growth until they are at least 250 years old. The oldest old growth forests in BC date from the end of the last ice age 10,000 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, Minister Donaldson, show us your comprehensive 1,000 year plan for the sustainable harvest of old growth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The following is from Save BC's Old-Growth Forests on Facebook:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Evolving over millennia, BC's old-growth forests are a non-renewable resource under BC's current system of forestry, where second-growth forests are typically re-logged every 30-80 years, never to become old-growth again.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And with close to 80% of productive old-growth forests on Vancouver Island having already been cut, the BC NDP need to wake up and realize there's NO SUCH THING as "sustainable" logging of endangered old-growth forests. 😡</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TAKE ACTION TODAY BY:</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">⏩ 1) Sending a message to the BC government demanding protection for BC's ancient forests and a shift to a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry: <a href="http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message">www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message</a></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">⏩ 2) Contacting your local MLA and asking them to stand up for ancient forests: <a href="http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/contact-your-mla" target="_blank">www.ancientforestalliance.org/contact-your-mla </a></span> </blockquote>
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<br />Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-55917702666743201212019-04-14T00:13:00.000-03:002019-04-14T00:14:14.663-03:00400 + Foot Douglas Fir Trees More Than Mythical<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2g7lYBpdUaM/Ud22VaJWR5I/AAAAAAAAIH8/IfriHAHosP0/s1600/2016112975.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="750" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2g7lYBpdUaM/Ud22VaJWR5I/AAAAAAAAIH8/IfriHAHosP0/s640/2016112975.gif" width="550" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some articles you read on historical big trees in Cascadia's region talk about the biggest of the big (the +400 footers) in mythical terms, as if they were no more than loggers tall tales. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But big tree people know differently - the huge Douglas fir trees existed. What a shame that they don't any more. As far as we currently know...</span></span><br />
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Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-36424465063385460732019-03-02T20:14:00.000-04:002019-03-04T14:23:25.228-04:00The Man Who Saved Big Lonely Doug<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T9Ig7V8fWw/W8ZAKJRqZII/AAAAAAAAOkM/g-KN8Ls4FEU81zTw3tOmSF6tj2wSmPOYQCLcBGAs/s1600/BigLonelyDoug-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1081" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T9Ig7V8fWw/W8ZAKJRqZII/AAAAAAAAOkM/g-KN8Ls4FEU81zTw3tOmSF6tj2wSmPOYQCLcBGAs/s640/BigLonelyDoug-3.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dennis Cronin standing in front of the giant tree he saved.<br />Photo credit: Lorraine Cronin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 2014, just as I was moving from Vancouver Island, BC to Nova Scotia, the tree which has become to be known as Big Lonely Doug was discovered by big tree protectors in a former stand of old growth not far from Port Renfrew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The giant Douglas fir tree was not hard to find - it was the only tree left in a clear cut block that used to be an ancient grove, and it was hard to miss.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it turns out, the tree still stands due to the efforts of Mr. Cronin, an industry engineer, that may have been the first person to ever see it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To read the fascinating story of how this amazing specimen, the second largest fir in Canada, was saved, <a href="https://thewalrus.ca/big-lonely-doug/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">click here</span></a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The only Douglas fir tree larger is the <a href="https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2011/06/worlds-largest-douglas-fir-renfrew-red.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Red Creek Fir</span></a>. This is another significant tree that was also destined for destruction, but was preserved by a logging crew that could not bring themselves to cut such a gigantic tree down.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unnc4jaIMz8/XHXHHn2QpkI/AAAAAAAAO3o/81kRmPUPvkgiabXd6laXIZf6NsQjVPTbQCLcBGAs/s1600/BigLonelyDoug-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="860" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unnc4jaIMz8/XHXHHn2QpkI/AAAAAAAAO3o/81kRmPUPvkgiabXd6laXIZf6NsQjVPTbQCLcBGAs/s640/BigLonelyDoug-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There goes the neighbourhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why Big Lonely Doug is so lonely. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But, better lonely than dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Photo credit: TJ Watt</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have never seen the tree that Dennis Cronin, who after decades in the woods and marking untold numbers of giant Pacific Forest trees for removal, decided to save. But the next time I am in Canada's big tree country again, I will.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And when I do, I will think about the man who chose to save Big Lonely Doug, one of the tallest trees (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(194, 194, 194);">70.2 metres, 230 ft - </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(194, 194, 194);">the height of an 21 story building)</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> he had ever seen, and I will give thanks for his decision.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On a final note, Mr. Cronin died shortly after retiring from his forestry job. By that time he could see that the end of the big trees had come. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">P</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">erhaps his signature tree was one small (or big, depending on how you look at it) way of making amends.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/learn-more/port-renfrew-big-trees-map/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Click here to see the Ancient Forest Alliance Big Trees Map</span></a><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"> "created with driving directions to Avatar Grove (home to Canada’s “Gnarliest Tree”), </span><b style="color: #1f1f1f;">Big Lonely Doug</b><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"> (Canada’s 2nd largest Douglas-fir), the Red Creek Fir (the world’s largest Douglas-fir tree), San Juan Spruce (one of Canada’s largest spruce trees), Harris Creek Spruce (another giant sitka spruce), and more!"</span></span></span><br />
<br />Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-47451438670271592012019-02-15T09:42:00.000-04:002019-03-02T20:19:09.585-04:00Big Trees + Big Wind = Power Outages and Crushed Cars<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSC6pxS052g/XGc_Hns7PYI/AAAAAAAAOzk/ZpL7-d4D92wj9XLHxF3CtN5Val9vZWXoQCLcBGAs/s1600/100_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSC6pxS052g/XGc_Hns7PYI/AAAAAAAAOzk/ZpL7-d4D92wj9XLHxF3CtN5Val9vZWXoQCLcBGAs/s640/100_0384.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a fierce winter storm I toured Sooke, BC to assess the damage. It was extensive.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The west coast has had its share of gnarly weather this winter, with vast and prolonged power outages. And probably more than a few crushed vehicles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It reminds me of when I was living on Billing Spit in Sooke, BC. It was there, on the top floor of an older 3 floor waterfront apartment building, that I experienced one of the scariest weather events of my life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A December wind storm hit just before Christmas. With gusts over 100km, the storm initially woke me up as my bed, and the whole building, was shaking. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The air pressure had blown all the water out of the sink drain traps in our apartment, and the air rushing through the pipes was making a wailing sound like I have never heard before, or since.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My wife and I retrieved our Bug Out Bags, and set them by the front door. We were ready to evacuate and seek shelter somewhere safer. Preferably, somewhere where there weren't waves crashing over the sea wall and spraying on to our front balcony.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We looked out our back window to see our building caretaker fighting off a large piece of vinyl siding wrapped around him, threatening to launch him into the dark night sky.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the end, we rode out the storm in our shaking and vibrating unit. Escape was impossible, unless we left on foot, since there were large trees down everywhere, including in our parking lot. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next morning, when the wind subsided, I went out to see that the roof of the twin building next door ripped</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> completely off, and landed in the parking lot behind the building. Our neighbours were homeless for weeks until repairs were completed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were all without power for almost a week.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our roof stayed put, perhaps due to the fact that our building, unlike the one next door, had large trees protecting it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The big trees giveth, the big trees taketh away. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I love them all the same.</span></span><br />
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<br />Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-88946821865241223072018-12-25T03:57:00.000-04:002019-03-02T20:16:31.440-04:00Big Coastal Christmas Trees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp-hGK1tTAQ/Tu03tnutXoI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/p8rUgEVNxbE/s1600/sookebay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp-hGK1tTAQ/Tu03tnutXoI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/p8rUgEVNxbE/s640/sookebay.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the big conifers in the distance is decorated with two bald eagles at the top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note: originally posted December 18, 2011.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I went for a walk today to look for Christmas and it was nowhere to be seen. There was no snow or hanging icicles, and it was sunny and a balmy +9 degrees Celsius. However, we do have some of the largest Christmas trees in the world growing here, and I discovered some nice ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conifers are the traditional Christmas trees of choice, and the Pacific coastal forest is dominated by conifers. Douglas-fir is the second most popular Christmas tree sold in North America. Young trees have a nice conical shape, and the needles are sweet smelling when crushed. But if you like your trees big, and alive, this is the place to see them. We are at the edge of coastal Douglas-fir territory in Sooke.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The biggest Douglas-fir in the world grows near here in the woods close to Port Renfrew. You would need a lot of tinsel for that behemoth, which is 73.8m (242') in height, 13.3m (43.7') in circumference, and 4.2m (14') in diameter. But I wasn't looking in Port Renfrew for big trees as I wanted to stick closer to home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1asXvAUHtk/Tu2U82lRxiI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/iZKtGI1S8KQ/s1600/wiffinspruce.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1asXvAUHtk/Tu2U82lRxiI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/iZKtGI1S8KQ/s320/wiffinspruce.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Big Sitka spruce overlooking beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The place I went exploring for giant conifers was in the Wiffen Spit neighbourhood. There I found a right of way leading to a set of stairs down to the beach. It is a great place to see big trees on the top of the high banks, as well as those that have fallen below or washed in off the Strait of Juan de Fuca.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We celebrate trees and their importance this time of year when we hack one out of the forest and bring it into our homes to dry up and die. Then they are unceremoniously dumped at the curbside. Here in clear cut territory, it seems like an extravagant waste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you go without the traditional indoor dead tree this year, and you are in the Sooke region, Wiffin Spit is the place to go to see a live tree that is anonymously decorated every year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Wiffin Spit tree is a short hike from the parking lot, and is now the most notable live decorated tree in town since town council grinches gave the green light about a year ago to remove two beautiful, completely healthy heritage Douglas-fir trees right in the center of town. Read about their sad demise <a href="http://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2010/12/sookes-evergreen-mall-trees-appeared.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SK7STToShuk/Tu2X3K5oEyI/AAAAAAAAC7g/Ne_Ag393Ap8/s1600/sookexmastree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SK7STToShuk/Tu2X3K5oEyI/AAAAAAAAC7g/Ne_Ag393Ap8/s640/sookexmastree.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biggest Christmas tree on Vancouver Island until being <br />
unceremoniously cut down by The Grinch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The 150 year old Douglas-fir trees were replaced by two 2m tall exotic Norway spruce. I noticed the other day that one was decorated, but it just doesn't measure up to the giant it replaced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy holidays.</span>Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-55792473904905660502018-09-07T11:24:00.000-03:002018-09-07T11:25:40.419-03:00Moving On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--yRZ1-cji5Y/W5KE3XnD_eI/AAAAAAAAOXY/pTBUVbgCTrEL0MjIaz02__iPyiRC2jv9gCLcBGAs/s1600/14355548_10154557413616255_5427571975519001173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="750" height="550" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--yRZ1-cji5Y/W5KE3XnD_eI/AAAAAAAAOXY/pTBUVbgCTrEL0MjIaz02__iPyiRC2jv9gCLcBGAs/s640/14355548_10154557413616255_5427571975519001173_n.jpg" width="750" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my new forest - the Acadian Forest of Nova Scotia.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Vancouver Island Big Trees blog began as a way to share my experiences visiting some of the biggest trees around Victoria, Sooke and up West Coast Road to Port Renfrew and beyond. I wanted it to be both a celebration of the west coast's primal forests and trees, and a warning that if we don't start fighting for what is left, it will be gone forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even before moving to the Pacific temperate rain forest for a decade, I visited </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">from the prairies </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">annually from the time I was old enough to drive. It was then that I fell in love with walking the beaches and forest trails of Vancouver Island. I found the trees to be huge and magical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I started this blog I lived in the midst of big tree country in the former logging town of Sooke, BC. Even after 20 years of exploring the big trees, I was still mystified how a human that would be lucky to get 100 years, could destroy a tree 1000s of years old.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over this time I have been rewarded by ancient tree encounters that were life changing, as well as encounters with the ugly side of industrial liquidation and government neglect, that were equally as moving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have since moved to my new forest, and one that is perhaps not as tall, but every bit as magical - the Acadian forest of Nova Scotia. They are smaller, but there are big trees here, too. And the diversity of trees in this forest is an amazing thing that will keep me busy learning for years to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nova Scotian forests are also under relentless assault from industrial, profit-minded businesses that don't care if they are destroying an entity that has been living and thriving since the last ice age. It is too bad, because in Canada this forest is every bit as unique as the great Western Rainforest of Vancouver Island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is not boreal forest (the largest intact forest left on our planet... for now). It is not the great deciduous forest of the southern USA. This forest is a unique blend of both, and I intend on exploring it every bit as much as I did the forest out west.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having said that, I do like to keep up on what is happening in the west coast forest, and plan on doing the occasional post on this blog as well. In the meantime, I hike and photograph the Acadian Forest looking for the biggest of the big trees out here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can visit my new blog, <a href="https://acadianforestbigtrees.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"Acadian Forest Big Trees" here</span></a><span style="color: #38761d;">.</span> I hope to add to it and develop the same following this blog has had since 2009. Thank you to everyone that has made keeping this blog so satisfying. Your interest, and visits, are appreciated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Long live the big trees, wherever they may be.</span><br />
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Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893669372992372964.post-325404146318227192018-05-08T00:52:00.003-03:002018-05-08T00:54:35.130-03:00Tree of Life Gets Little Respect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mptNTbcNnKc/US6fwfjidpI/AAAAAAAAHP0/oWfaifYHu-k/s1600/61734_10151458435056743_1400284749_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mptNTbcNnKc/US6fwfjidpI/AAAAAAAAHP0/oWfaifYHu-k/s640/61734_10151458435056743_1400284749_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolf head canoe in Sooke River estuary approaching T'souke Nation<br />
Tribal Journey, 2009 - photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/art.trickster" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Trickster Art</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the coastal forest the Western red-cedar is known as the "tree of life". It is a good name for a tree that can maintain its own life for thousands of years. Although it is British Columbia's official tree, it currently gets little respect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cedar's downfall? Too useful, too profitable, and too vulnerable.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mR_qmvod7Wk/US63gsmssVI/AAAAAAAAHQY/MVa8CD9lafk/s1600/gehman-raymond-an-old-haida-cedar-canoe-found-in-the-forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mR_qmvod7Wk/US63gsmssVI/AAAAAAAAHQY/MVa8CD9lafk/s640/gehman-raymond-an-old-haida-cedar-canoe-found-in-the-forest.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfinished cedar canoe on Haida Gwaii</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red-cedar has helped maintain human life on the coast for thousands of years. It has provided coastal First Nations with planks for homes, and large trunks for canoes and totem poles, the tall poles carved with family histories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tree of life also provides material for boxes, rope, clothes, and carvings. But for how long?</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HswBzxD2e04/US639X8SBZI/AAAAAAAAHQg/jV8vDW-s7nw/s1600/300px-Haida_Houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HswBzxD2e04/US639X8SBZI/AAAAAAAAHQg/jV8vDW-s7nw/s640/300px-Haida_Houses.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar provides durable wood for canoes, long houses, totem poles, and more.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Increasingly, large red-cedar trees are becoming rare as logging companies vie for the last of the big ones. Finding large trees is becoming a global problem as native forests continue to disappear at an alarming rate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1998, when Hawaiian canoe makers combed the islands for a native tree large enough to suit their purposes, they spent 9 months looking, and eventually gave up. They concluded that trees big enough for large canoe building were extinct.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Canoe makers on Haida Gwaii have also encountered difficulty in sourcing large Western red-cedar suitable for canoes and totem poles.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byXtpcBM8PQ/US64Y6y9gCI/AAAAAAAAHQo/ecvA57x3zD4/s1600/getimage.exe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byXtpcBM8PQ/US64Y6y9gCI/AAAAAAAAHQo/ecvA57x3zD4/s640/getimage.exe.jpeg" width="401" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haida totem pole made from cedar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The largest known Western red-cedar canoe in the world was carved in Sooke, BC by canoe makers from the T'Sou-ke First Nation in the early 1990's. The canoe, named KWA Q YUK, is 52 feet long.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will there still be cedars big enough for a grand vessel of this size seven generations from now? Or even one generation?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The BC government must manage our public forests far better in order to ensure a sustainable yield of large Western red-cedar for cultural, and other uses. It is a job we have entrusted to them, and for decades they have failed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ending clearcut old growth logging as we know it today will help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is time to humble ourselves before the tree of life, not to mention before the peoples, and our hosts, that require this amazing tree to maintain their traditional ways of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can do your part by refusing to purchase any old growth cedar for any reason. Even better, we can refuse to buy any products that originate in our disappearing primal forests.</span><br />
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Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.com0