PPC nature walk group shot
The United Nations General Assembly declared March 21st as the International Day of Forests. The day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. It was only natural for the PPC to celebrate this important day, so they hosted a one-hour nature walk around Totem Park forest on the UBC campus. A group of more than 25, including PPC’s Director Mark Martinez, gathered on a sunny afternoon to learn about various tree species, listen to folk stories, learn new facts, and learn about all the different uses of the various trees that were discussed. The group was pleasantly surprised when they saw a Bald Eagle on the walk. The nature walk concluded with lunch at the Centre and a viewing of a documentary made on Vancouver Island titled “Logging: from chain saw to saw mill”.
Here are just a handful of the general facts that were shared on the nature walk: Forests cover a third of land on earth, and half of all know species live in forests. Forests also prevent erosion, reduce flooding, and purify the soil and the air. Did you know that one full grown tree can produce enough oxygen for ten people? The forestry industry employs 1.6 billion people, including us at the PPC.
The PPC is very lucky to have extremely knowledgeable staff and students who were able to act as tour guides during the nature walk. Below we share their biographies:
 As a lifelong resident of BC and something of an amateur naturalist, Nici Darychuk, Research Assistant & Laboratory Technician at the PPC, has always had a great interest in the flora and fauna of this beautiful province. In 2007 she received her B.Sc. (Hons) in biology at the University of Victoria, in which her coursework and honours project focused on tree biochemistry and physiology. Subsequently, she pursued a M.Sc. at the Centre for Forest Biology at UVic, in which she studied the physiological responses of tree seedlings to cold and drought stress, in the context of forestry activities in BC’s coast mountains. |
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 Christine Saville is currently studying Forest Resource Management in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. In this program students are taught how to responsibly manage BC’s forests for timber harvesting and how to properly restore forests with ecological integrity. Along the way they study and discuss current forest issues and triumphs concerning wildlife and First Nations Peoples. Chrissy is currently studying fish ecology in riparian zones and also the use of infrared aerial photography and satellite imaging to map BC’s forests. |
Nine tree species were discussed in full detail, here are just two abbreviated examples of the Western Hemlock and the Western Yew:
Western Hemlock has flat needles, feathery foliage, small cones and scaly bark. It can grow up to 60m tall. The bark alone can be used as medicine, dye and food, while the wood can be used as lumber and pulp
Western Yew is a smaller tree ranging between 2-15m tall. It has a redish flaky bark and flat, pointed needles arranged in two rows. The bark produces an anti-cancer drug taxol. The wood is very tough and durable and historically used to make bows, weapons and tools.