{"id":3267,"date":"2020-10-01T21:51:31","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T04:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/alpineplants\/?page_id=3267"},"modified":"2021-07-07T12:53:55","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T19:53:55","slug":"dakota-bowl-forest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/alpineplants\/virtual-field-trips\/dakota-bowl-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"Dakota Bowl Forest and Bear Sanctuary, Mt Elphinstone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sign posted by R. Muirhead. The significance of the “X” was not lost on those who took this tour (ask me if you’re curious!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome to this interactive, immersive 360\u00b0 educational tour to the Dakota Bear Sanctuary. A little context: Located on the unceded lands of the Sechelt (sh\u00edsh\u00e1lh) and Squamish (Skwxw\u00fa7mesh \u00daxwumixw) Nations, the Dakota ridge falls within the Coastal Western hemlock (Tsuga herophylla<\/em>) and the Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana<\/em>) zones of BC’s Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification<\/a> system, with Western yellow cedar (Cuppressus nootkatensis<\/em>) subzones (variants). Unique for its concentration of large Yellow cedars, it is one of the most spectacular and ancient forests of its kind in BC.<\/p>\n

Characterized as “ancient” rather than simply old-growth, Dakota escaped the widespread logging pervasive in BC coastal forests, thanks to its steep slopes and difficult access for large machinery (thought, apparently BC Timber Sales felt these challenges were no longer insurmountable!). Neither has it been subject to large scale fire in its recent ecological history (too rainy\/foggy!), nor, across much of the landscape, major mass movements (landslides). It therefore supports trees that are older than 1500 years, according to recent tree ring core studies<\/a>. The oldest documented individual was estimated to be over 1820 years old when it died, and its cross-section is now displayed at the Iris Griffiths Centre<\/a>. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife (see below), and hosts a number of bear dens<\/a> within its mature tree trunks.<\/p>\n

Of cultural significance, a large number of\u00a0 Culturally Modified Trees<\/a> (CMT), have been identified. These are Western yellow cedar (and elsewhere, Western redcedar, Thuja plicata<\/em><\/a>) individuals that have been involved in an Indigenous practice of bark stripping to access inner bark for materials such as ceremonial garments and mats. The practice is non-destructive – over time, trees seal over the affected area with cambial cell growth. Each CMT records this sustainable relationship between first peoples and the forest and is a legacy of the importance of Western Yellowcedar and Redcedar to Indigenous peoples including the Sechelt (sh\u00edsh\u00e1lh) and Squamish (Skwxw\u00fa7mesh \u00daxwumixw) Nations. In Dakota, CMT’s pre-date the colonial era (many were dated to the late 1500’s Current Era<\/a>), and document the long human history in the ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The Dakota Bear Sanctuary was recently the focus of conservation efforts<\/a> to prevent logging of its massive trees<\/a>. In Sept 2020, the province took it off the logging menu, for a time;<\/a> and in March 2021, the province announced an agreement with the Squamish Nation to preserve the tract <\/a>for good. Logging of BC’s old-growth forests is an ongoing concern that needs attention<\/a>.\u00a0 I was privileged to tour this forest, and learn about it from long-time forest advocates, Ross Muirhead and Hans Penner of Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF; I was on the trip documented here<\/a>!). This interactive tour shares that experience.<\/p>\n

Google map of tour stops [Scroll down past this map window to see the tour window]<\/p>\n