In 2019, the Ancient Forest Alliance teamed up with our good friends at Expedition Old-Growth to ascend, measure, and document the tallest Sitka spruce tree in Mossome Grove near Port Renfrew. This incredible tree, which measures over 10 feet (3 metres) wide at the base, came in at 246.5 feet (75m) tall – as tall as a 23-story building! Its huge trunk splits in two about a third of the way up as well, creating two impressive and towering stems. Add in the mosses, ferns, and lichens and it was a beauty to behold.
The unprotected Mossome Grove is found within the territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation, with much of the grove located on lands managed by BC Timber Sales. Even though there aren’t any current logging plans that exist, without sufficient policies and legislated protection, the future of endangered ancient forests like the unique and photogenic Mossome Grove remains uncertain.
Send a message to the BC government, calling for science-based protection of BC’s endangered old-growth forests.
