Temperate Rainforests of Haida Gwaii and the Pacific Northwest

Temperate rainforests are amongst the most spectacular, the most amazing and the most mysterious forests that I have ever seen. They are no less overgrown or jungle-like than their tropical counterparts found along the equator. Trees are high enough to nearly block out the sky, and the lower story is a dense moss-covered mix of fallen tree trunks, overgrown branches and roots. Water is never very far, everything is sodden and wet, the moss-covered forest floor feels spongy under foot, mist hangs in the air when it isn’t raining. The lower branches are draped in moss and different kinds of lichen, glowing in myriad shades of green. The air is filled with the overpowering damp and slightly sweet smell of decaying wood, mushrooms and earth.

To flourish temperate rainforests need two things : a stable climate with moderate temperatures and lots and lots of water. Coastlines in latitudes between 40 and 60° that are frequently battered by rain and storms or shrouded in fog provide a perfect environment. Native west coast species such Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, Western red cedar and Western hemlock can grow to enormous sizes under these conditions as they literally keep growing all year round. Temperate rainforests are not only amazingly beautiful, but they also support one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on earth, from the tiniest invertebrates to the largest mammals.

Not all that long ago, they could be found in many places, even in Northern Europe (Scotland, Ireland, Iceland). Sadly a large proportion have fallen victim to human greed through excessive logging. Very few old growth forests have survived to this day, mainly in Chile, Tasmania, New Zealand and northwest America. Despite extensive industrial logging, the forests of the Pacific Northwest are still the worlds largest of their kind.