Photo: Taylor Roades / The Narwhal

The inland temperate rainforest and “wetbelt” region of British Columbia are one of only 3 such areas globally. They have the highest known lichen richness, massive trees that live for nearly two millennia, their full complement of large carnivores, and imperiled woodland caribou – but the area is endangered by logging, roads, and energy development. This video is from a recent study assessing the importance of remaining primary forests and intact forest landscapes. It illustrates how fast the region’s forests have been logged since the 1950s, resulting in loss of more than 40% of the inland temperate rainforest. This project is part of a global effort led by Dr. Brendan Mackey, Griffith University, to assess primary forests in Europe, Russia, Australia, North America, and the tropics. Dr. Dominick  DellaSala, Chief Scientist, Geos Institute, and IntAct steering committee member, is leading the North American team in year 2 of this 3-year study.

https://vimeo.com/347621503/e92a02887b