Forests For Life

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.

I am referring to forests. 

Home to about 80% of the world's biodiversity, forests are collectively the second biggest storehouse of carbon after oceans, absorbing significant amounts of greenhouse gases. 

They also enhance biodiversity, while protecting waterways, enhancing soil nutrition, and providing buffers from natural disasters.

All of that, and they are beautiful places to live or visit. How dull life would be without trees and forests. And how different life would be. 

Some believe that civilization would have been impossible without trees. 

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.

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.

Once those forests are gone, they will take centuries, eons in some cases, to replace. And for what? A few jobs and temporary profits. 

How sad. 

Considering their importance, we should show trees and forests respect and gratitude more often.

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.

Protect forests and we retain one of our best ways of mitigating our effects on the atmosphere.

Trees are our friends. Forests for life.

World's Largest Yellow Cedars Are On Vancouver Island

St. RandAlly, previous champion Yellow cedar

When it comes to the world's top six largest Yellow cedars, Vancouver Island is where it is at. Five of the top six are in British Columbia (the other is in the state of Washington). Of those five, at least three are on Vancouver Island.

The current largest commonly known specimen of Yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) can be found near the small town of Sayward on the north west part of the island. It is in an area of big trees along Cooper Creek, and its name is Admiral Broeren.

The previous champion Yellow Cedar grew for many centuries close by to where today's champion stands. Shortly before the St. RandAlly recreational site was to open, the 2000 year old giant tree fell to the forest floor.

The tree was named after Randall Dayton and Ally Gibson, the forestry engineers that discovered the record breaker in 1993. It fell in 2004.

This fallen Yellow cedar boasted impressive measurements:

• Height 61m (200 ft), 
• Circumference 13.08m (42ft.11in), 
• Diameter 4.16m (13.7ft), 
• Crown Spread 16m (52.5ft), and 
• Stem Volume 175 cubic meters (6,200 cu. ft). 

Note: Champion trees in North America are determined with a point system used by the American Forestry Association that awards 1 point per inch of circumference at breast height, 1 point per foot in height, and 1 point for every 4 feet diameter of the live crown.

Sgt. RandAlly's score in AFA Points was 728.

Admiral Broeren, current world champion Yellow cedar, 
photo credit: Bud Logan, see more at gohiking.ca

Admiral Broeren, at 575 points, has more volume (188 cubic meters) than Sgt. RandAlly, but is smaller in height, crown and diameter.

The British Columbia Big Tree Registry lists a Yellow cedar with more AFA points (618) than Admiral Broeren. It is listed as a "recent addition", is not named and no location is recorded. I suspect it is on Vancouver Island somewhere, but at this time I can not confirm that.

The tree is recorded as having the following dimensions which would make it more impressive than Admiral Broeren, and the largest in the world:

• Height  46.40 m (152 ft) 
• Circumference 11.59 m (38 ft)
• Diameter 3.68 m (12 ft), 
• Crown Spread 12.2 m (40 ft), and 
• AFA points 618

Yellow cedar wood

Yellow Cedar Facts

• Yellow Cedar grows well in deep moist soils. 
• They usually grow as single trees, but may also occur  in small groves. 
• Can be found alongside western red cedar and western hemlock.
• Their beautiful, rot-resistant wood is highly valued. 
• Given optimum conditions, they can reach monumental proportions.
• Many Yellow Cedars are dying in the northern part of their range - global warming has been fingered as the culprit. 
• Chamaecyparis is derived from the Greek word for the ground cypress, an Old World shrub; nootkatensis refers to Nootka Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island where Yellow cedar was first identified by botanists.

Range of the Yellow cedar

These trees are common in old growth forests on Vancouver Island, but are rarer in the south island and east coast where it is too warm. In the southern part of their range they are found high in the hills where it is cooler, and where snow accumulates in winter.

Top Six Largest Known Yellow Cedars

(Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)

 Rank     Height            Diameter Volume Name and Location
               (m)  (feet)                                  m3 (ft3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.            46.40 (152)  3.68 (12.0)        -                               Unnamed tree - unknown location in

British Columbia

2.            46.9 (154.0) 3.31 (10.9) 188 (6,650) Admiral Broeren - Memekay RiverValley,

Vancouver Island, BC

3.            61.0 (200.0) 4.16 (13.7) 175 (6,200) Sergeant RandAlly - Crown Land north

of Campbell River, Vancouver Island, BC. (tree fell in 2004)

4.            39.3 (129.0) 3.65 (12.0)         128 (4,530) Big Creek Cedar - Big Creek Trail near

Lake Quinalt, Olympic National Park, WA

5.            45.1 (148.0) 3.32 (10.9) 128 (4,520) General Buxton - Kelsey Bay, Crown

Land, TFL#39. Vancouver Island, BC

6.            39.6 (130.0) 2.28 (7.5) 103 (3,650) Cypress Park Cedar, Cypress Provincial

Park, Vancouver, BC

Fog In The Forest

Fog floating in to Sooke Harbour off the Strait of Juan de Fuca

South Vancouver Island has a Mediterranean climate, the mildest in Canada. Summer droughts are the norm, and true to form, we have not had appreciable precipitation since June. Except for fog.

The fog showed up early this year, and we have had many beautifully misty days under otherwise blue skies. The trees on the coast benefit from the moisture as they filter it out of the low clouds passing their needles.

When the needles can hold the precious drops no longer, the life-giving liquid falls to the ground below; shriveling roots sip and rejoice.

Our Forests Our Future

No trees No future

Two community forums will be held this week to discuss the future of forest lands on southern Vancouver Island. The Juan de Fuca forest lands make up 2/3 of the capital region district, and were the first affected by European exploitation. Although most of the forest is now second and third growth, development threatens the area.

Forum organizers wish to bring a diversity of voices to the forum and facilitate a sense of the community coming together to envision a future that includes care for Earth as well as sustainable livelihoods for people who live here.

Sooke Community Forum:

Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 PM Edward Milne Community School Sooke, British Columbia, Canada 

The forum will focus on ways to care for the forest lands in the Capital Regional District while providing sustainable livelihoods and community-based economic development to the region’s people. Forum participants will be welcomed by T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes, who will give a short introduction on the importance of forests in traditional culture. A short film by award-winning film-maker Maeva Gauthier will show the beauty of the land and address the importance of forests for mitigating climate change. The speakers will have short slots after which the floor will be turned over to a moderated community discussion.

Victoria Community Forum:

Thursday, May 3, 7:00 PM Ambrosia Event Centre, 638 Fisgard St. Victoria

Short film by award-winning film-maker Maeva Gauthier will be followed by speakers and community discussion.

Panelists:

• David Anderson, former federal Minister of Environment, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
• Ken Wu, advocate for protection of old growth forests and sustainable forest management
• Ben Parfitt, investigative journalist, author and long-time forest policy analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Organised by the Jordan River Steering Committee, an alliance of environmental and citizens' groups including Sierra Club BC and Wilderness Committee.

Forests Are The Lungs Of The World

"Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air

and giving fresh strength to our people."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt