World’s Largest Douglas Fir Tree may be in Danger
Image Source: Edited screen capture from Flickr.
If you’ve ever been to Vancouver Island, you may have been lucky enough to visit the famous Red Creek Fir Tree. Located in Port Renfrew, this tree is the world’s largest Douglas Fir; with a height over 242 feet (73.8 m) and a trunk that’s nearly 14 feet (4.2 m) wide. Environmentalists are concerned that this ancient tree may soon fall victim to all the deforestation that has been occurring in the area.
According to Ken Wu, co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance:
“They’ve already logged almost 90% of the old-growth forests on the south island, including 99% of the ancient Douglas Firs.”
While there are no immediate plans to log in the area of the Red Creek Fir, the AFA is collaborating with Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca’s Liberal MP, Keith Martin, in an effort to gain protection for the trees. To be more specific, Martin created a proposal that will require the identification and protection of the 100 largest and oldest trees of every species found within the province. Right now, there are no provincial laws that protect the ancient trees of British Columbia.
To find out more about the Ancient Forest Alliance, their campaign, and learn how you may be able to help, check out their official website here.
By Heidi Marshall
I have been with GreenFudge for about a year now, but I've had a passion for Nature my entire life. When I'm not writing articles, you can find me out hiking, gardening, working on green craft projects, or taking photos for my website. You can check out the site at http://arkisaeo.com
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Tags: Ancient Forest Alliance, ancient trees, British Columbia, Canada, Douglas fir, old-growth forests, Red Creek Fir, trees, Vancouver Island
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