A Nature Break

Rain. Rain. Rain.
All year round,
especially November to March.
Falling Rain.

Sounds terrible, doesn't it? But the rain blown ashore by the warm juicy Pacific winds keep this region of British Columbia balmy compared to the rest of Canada. The wet weather also creates a thriving rainforest ecosystem with a rich diversity of plant and animal species.

It’s a world of moss, ferns, massive conifer trees, flowers, and miles of coastline. BCs rainforests are highly productive because of the ability to grow throughout the year. The trees found in old growth forests are particularly immense because in the areas where they grow, wildfires are rare, which allows them to reach enormous size and live a long time.

Some trees are as old as one to two thousand years. The high canopies of old growth forests have their own micro climate and unique ecosystem. The canopy prevents the sunlight from reaching the forest floor, and so very little can grow on the ground. When an old tree falls, however, then sunlight is able to stream down to the forest floor. This gives rise to new life on the ground, and in time, it will be the home for young trees that will create a lower canopy layer with its own rich ecosystem, different from the one found in the higher canopy layer. Together, the old and young forest create a more diverse and richer ecosystem (Cannings and Cannings, 1996).

Dead wood fuels and shelters new life.

As I was walking down the trails, I saw that many trees had been cut down as part of a forest management procedure. There was a moth infestation a few years ago that caused the trees to weaken and become a danger to the public. While some residents are not happy about the ancient sentinels being cut down, the government argues that it is necessary because the weak trees can be dangerous, as shown in the following image.

I found it a bit odd that the tree had fallen in the opposite direction from which the wind blows, but we do get some wild storms. It is also possible that the tree was just old and weak, so it will now become food and shelter for the next generation of growth.

Salmonberry

As I mentioned, some residents don’t like the idea of trees being cut down, but there is a silver lining because as can be seen, decaying trees are an essential part of a diverse and thriving ecosystem.

This is the scorched bottom of a large uprooted tree. It may have been split by a lighting strike. Notice the fern growing on one of the low branches

Deforested areas lead to new growth and the arrival of different species not found in the old forests. In time, this gives rise to a new young forest, which as it grows, increases the number and variety of plants and animals in the area. So, to maximize biodiversity, it is essential to maintain a balanced combination of different age trees (Cannings and Cannings, 1996).

Skunk cabbage

Ivy growing on a log

There are many mysteries and amazing sights out there in the forest. If you (safely and responsibly) venture out to explore, you never know what wonders you're going to discover.

Resource

Cannings R., and Cannings S. (1996) British Columbia. A Natural History. Greystone Books.

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