Welcome to the UBC Ancient Forest Committee Website!


Our next hike will  be the Stanley Park Big Tree Tour towards the end of April or in early May. Stanley Park features one of the finest collections of big trees in BC including the largest measured red alder in BC and BC's largest recorded maple tree!!! 

Members of the UBC Ancient Forest Committee along side other ancient forest activists.
Meares Island, Clayoquot Sound June 2011


For details on future hikes and to get involved with the UBC AFC Please write to ubcafc@gmail.com 
Volunteers and member base needed - no experience necessary, get involved!

Introduction and Background: The mandate of the UBC Ancient forest Committee (AFC) is to raise awareness of the depletion of British Columbia's Ancient Forests and to encourage more sustainable forest management in BC. Essential to sustainable forest management is the preservation of sufficient tracts of old-growth on the landscape. Old-growth forests have not only intrinsic value, but also serve humans, from the local to the global scale, with a suite of ecosystem services distinct from most second growth forests. Discounting the value of these services, which include carbon storage, cultural values, habitat for biodiversity,  and resilience among others, as they become increasingly rare is unacceptable and strays BC forest management away from the principles of sustainability.

With the intention of increasing Vancouverite’s awareness and knowledge of the ancient forests of BC, the AFC offers free guided old-growth hikes to explore the impressive scattered remains of the 'The Great Vancouver Forest.' In anticipation of the May 2013 provincial election, we have the objective of creating enough awareness and understanding among voters to force ancient forests as an issue for politicians. More specifically, we will focus on UBC's own electoral riding because Point Grey is in a swing riding. Also, Point Grey is home to a little known but truly valuable old-growth forest that contributes significantly to the regions ecology and community. (see map below!)

Caveat: The UBC AFC is NOT opposed to forestry. Many of our members study forestry and we are well informed that timber products are, in many ways, a relatively sustainable resource when managed appropriately. Additionally, it is acknowledged that forestry is an important part of our province's heritage, culture and economy.

Print this map off and make you own tour of UBC's outstanding old-growth forests!! Or at the very least, keep your eyes pealed for big trees next time you walk the Wreck Beach Stairs or visit the Botanical Garden.

The Status of BC's Ancient Forests:
After only about 150 years of forest harvesting, old-growth is becoming extremely rare in parts of BC. For example, less than 10% of the valley bottom old-growth remain on Southern Vancouver Island. Of this, only 1% of the south island's original coast Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone forests are still standing. Legislation is urgently needed in areas like the Lower Mainland and south island to protect the remaining stands. Logging can only continue for a little while longer until the resource is entirely depleted. As they become increasingly scarce, each marginal reduction results in increasing losses of ecosystem services.

Additionally, due to the ecological variability and biological diversity (both species and genetic) inherent in old-growth forests there is substantial reason to believe old-growth forests enhance the resilience of BC's forested landscapes in the face of a warming climate and changing disturbance patterns.

Believed to be the largest maple tree in Canada, this giant big leaf maple is the most impressive of several
enormous maples found in Stanley park 

The Largest Douglas-fir in Stanley park. This Towering 60 meter giant is situated along one of the parks many forested trails.