Ancient Forest / Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park

In the summer of 2017, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigners visited the Ancient Forest Trail east of Prince George and the then recently established Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park in the northern reaches of the Inland Temperate Rainforest of BC.

This amazing rainforest of old-growth redcedars in the Upper Fraser Valley off Highway 16 was protected through a stellar, broad-based campaign led by a collaborative effort of the Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Society, scientists at the University of Northern BC, and local environmental activists with the Dome Creek Forest Information Committee, with the support of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. Their campaign was smart and wise — they sought to enlist the support of a wide cross-section of people and organizations, including businesses and the local Rotary Club, far beyond the echo chamber base of already dedicated environmental activists who normally support such efforts. The result was the protection of several of the finest stands of Inland Temperate Rainforest on Earth! Of particular note was the high-quality boardwalk they built to protect the understory and tree roots and to enhance public access to this special old-growth forest.

Thanks to the relentless, humble champion of the campaign, Nowell Senior, for taking Ancient Forest Alliance on a tour of the area, as well as David Connell for his hospitality and organization, Darwyn Coxson for his insights, and Hugh Perkins and Kathy Juncker for guiding us further!