Nicola Murray describes Bowen's old growth forests in this month's article from the Bowen Island Parks, Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee.
Did you know that Bowen Island is home to some of the rarest ecosystems in British Columbia? One of the most varied and vibrant of these ecosystems is our old growth forests.
In this part of BC, old growth forest refers to ecosystems with trees that are 250 years or older while some interior forests are ‘old growth’ at only 140 years. Roughly 23% of British Columbia’s forests are considered old growth, and only 1% of Bowen’s land base is old growth forest. These sensitive ecosystems are fragile and are often home to at-risk and endangered species of plants and animals – birds in particular.
The fact that little old growth remains on Bowen makes it harder to find and visit, but we are fortunate that mature forests (80-250 years old) cover about 49% of the Island. Many of our oldest trees are hard to reach, like on the summits of Mount Gardner, or are on private property, like Opa at Xenia. However, if you are inclined to go exploring, there are some beauties to be found on the trails in Bluewater and Cape Roger Curtis and there’s even a big Douglas fir right behind Tuscany Restaurant.
In addition to the importance of the old growth to the ecosystems they support and to the cultural and spiritual fabric of our First Nations peoples, they also serve to mitigate climate change, reduce pollution and provide spaces for relaxation and contemplation for us all. I hope that you too will fall in love with these increasingly rare grande dames of the forest and thereby be inspired to do what you can to protect them.
For more information on our forests and their stewardship visit the Islands Trust Conservancy.
