Ancient Forest Trail

Darwin Coxson, Associate Professor and Plant Ecologist of UNBC provided a great presentation and pictures of the "Ancient Forest Trail" located approximately 110 kilometres East of Prince George on Highway 16.

Darwin explained that this is one of many small pieces of "Inland Rain forest" that remain in northern BC, far removed from the Coastal Environment where most people might expect to see examples of huge and very old "Red Cedar" trees.

The site is a very lush growing site, with an abundance of plant species and undergrowth, relative to this type of very wet Ecosystem.

The Ancient Forest Trail was created by a group of dedicated people from the Hiking Clubs.  The site is not part of a Provincial Park, and is built and maintained by volunteers.  The local Highways maintain the parking lot and snow removal to assist visitors during all seasons.

Visitors might often see local wildlife as part of their experience while enjoying the walk through this forest of Old Growth trees that might be as much as 1500 years old.  There is now some speculation that these trees might be some of the first to grow in BC and might even be the source of trees now growing in other rainforest's located in BC.

The site is now becoming well known by visitors from other countries as well as some of the visitors from other provinces. 

Darwin suggested that the site might one day be a candidate to be classified as "A World Heritage Site".

 Rotarian David McDougall thanked Darwin for his presentation with another donation to our Polio Plus Program.