Gambier Coastal Western Hemlock Forests

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GAMBIER ISLAND LOCAL TRUST AREA
Coastal Western  
Hemlock Forests
What are Coastal Western  
Hemlock Ecosystems?
The Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) zone describes a unique 
set of ecosystems that stretch along the north Pacific coast of 
North America, encompassing most of coastal BC. The wet, 
temperate rainforests that characterize the CWH zone are still 
widespread in BC; however, a number of rare CWH ecosystems 
adapted to the dry, Mediterranean conditions found in and 
around the Salish Sea are under threat and under-protected. 
Why are CWH Forests Important?
Extending from sea level to 1000 metres, the CWH zone may  
support the greatest diversity and abundance of wildlife habitat  
in BC. Large, old-growth trees provide critical habitat for species-
at-risk like the Marbled Murrelet and Northern Goshawk. 
Snags provide nesting and foraging habitat for birds and small 
mammals. Fallen trees support amphibians, fungi and mosses, 
and act as nurse logs for seedlings. Root systems control and 
filter rainwater runoff into streams, protecting salmon habitat.
In addition to supporting biodiversity, CWH forests benefit our 
communities by:
• Providing cultural and spiritual places for First Nations that 
have lived in the region since time immemorial
• Mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon 
from the atmosphere
• Capturing rainwater and controlling and filtering runoff into 
lakes and streams, protecting drinking water and mitigating 
risk of flooding and drought
• Reducing pollution by removing dust, pollen, and smoke  
from the air
• Increasing property values
• Providing recreational opportunities and spaces for relaxation
Pileated woodpecker, frog and tree photos by Kristine Mayes; Marbled Murrelet photo by  
U.S. Department of Agriculture, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Map produced by Islands Trust.Learn more at islandstrustconservancy.ca
Western islands
Eastern islands
Young forest (40 –   80 yrs)
Mature forest (80 –   250 yrs)
Old forest (over 250 yrs)
Other land cover
Coastal Douglas-fir forests
CWH Forest Ecosystems
the pileated woodpecker, northern red-legged 
frog, and marbled murrelet are among the many 
species that depend on cwh forests

Why are CWH Forests at Risk?
As a result of past logging and development, 13 unique CWH 
ecosystems are at risk. While unsustainable logging remains one 
of the greatest threats to forests, the rarest CWH ecosystems 
occur in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound 
islands, and eastern Vancouver Island, where they also face 
widespread urban and rural development and other pressures 
from a growing human population. Climate change is expected 
to add to impacts on CWH forests. Intensifying summer drought 
will stress trees (as already seen in western redcedar die-offs), 
which will have cascading effects throughout the forest ecosystem.  
The CWH ecosystems of the Salish Sea are among the rarest 
and most threatened in BC. Two thirds of historic forests in this 
region have bee

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