Western Coastal Rainforest
the land of giants
Canopy was founded on the edge of North America, in a coastal temperate rainforest that has inspired generations of activists and lovers of nature alike — Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The rolling valleys and mountains of the west coast's temperate rainforests house cedar trees thousands of years old, giant Sitka spruce that multiple people joining hands could not encircle, and more than four dozen known threatened or endangered species.
A Realm of Ancient Trees, Verdant Mosses, and Coastal Wonders
These towering old-growth forests are globally rare, covering less than 1% of the earth’s surface. Sadly, their future remains uncertain.
More than three-quarters of the productive coastal temperate rainforests on Vancouver Island have already been logged. These beautiful forests are important for reducing climate change. They store more atmospheric carbon per hectare than almost any other forest on Earth, but only a small part of these amazing giants are left.
Photo: @TJWattPhotography
Photo: @TJWattPhotography
OUR WORK IN COASTAL TEMPERATE RAINFORESTS
Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island have lived in harmony with the region's forests for thousands of years. Their traditional knowledge, which encompasses practices of sustainable harvesting, fire management, and species preservation, plays a critical role in forest stewardship. Indigenous-managed lands cover approximately 1.5 million hectares on Vancouver Island, showcasing their significant role in conservation efforts and sustainable land use.
In 2024, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and the BC government announced 76,000 hectares of new conservation areas in Clayoquot Sound, nearly doubling the protected old-growth rainforest within this iconic region.
INTO THE FORESTS
Wild Wonders:
The sea wolf, a unique coastal predator, roams the shores and islands of the West Coast temperate rainforests and the oceans that surround them. Unlike other wolves, sea wolves rely heavily on the ocean for food, hunting fish and marine life. When hunting for food, "sea wolves" can swim miles between islands to feast on seals and animal carcasses found on the rocks.
The sea wolves survival is intricately linked to the health of both the rainforest and surrounding marine ecosystems, making the protection of this rare and remarkable species dependent on the preservation of these interconnected environments.
