Canada's oldest known tree: sixty-five generations of people came and went during the life time of this 1700 year old yellow cedar before it was logged five years ago. Remnant ancient forest nearby need urgent action to avoid a similar fate. Photo credit: John Field
Favoured nesting sites for marbled murrelets, Western and Mountain hemlocks 600-1000 years old dominate much of the Caren Range Uplands Forest. Photo credit: John Field
Chainsaw found it first
3% of Sechelt Ppeninsula's acient forest remains...more cut blocks planned
Although time ran out for this particular tree and 97% of the original forest cover on the Sechelt Peninsula, it is believed that even older trees still stand in the remaining 3%. Despite repeated calls to halt logging, the response from the B.C. Forest Service is "business as usual". Application has been made for three more cut blocks (see "Speak now or forever ancient stumps", on page 4) which, if approved, will further whittle away this remnant.
Friends of Caren, a local cititzen's organization, has developed a Caren Range Uplands Park Proposal that calls for the protection of the remaining 800 ha. (three square miles) of sub-alpine forest.*
It is doubtful whether the two remaining areas of ancient sub-alpine forest can exist as viable ecosystems if any more is logged. Although no detailed biological inventories exist and little is understood about this complex type of forest, what is known already is gaining national attention. Ancient forests, including trees well over 1,500 years old, provide shelter and protection to a wide assortment of wildlife and plants. The Caren Range Uplands forest is believed to support one of the largest known breeding colonies of the threatened Marbled murrelet. It is well understood that a major threat to this secretive sea-bird is loss of nesting habitat due to clearcut logging.
*(The park proposal total of 8,000 ha. Also cover surrounding areas of second growth, included for watershed, wilderness and recreational reasons.)
