A few weeks after the poaching of trees in the Six Mountains Community Forest became national news, once again Canadians are turning their attention to B.C.’s forests.
A Hollywood feature film is about to be made starring B.C.’s forests. It will be based on Suzanne Simard’s Finding The Mother Tree. Her recently published book is going viral. It is the story of Suzanne’s discovery of the underground social networks of trees, including the mother tree, feeding, nurturing, protecting, communicating with younger trees. Suzanne, a UBC forestry professor, will be portrayed by Amy Adams in the movie.
The attention is a miracle for the forests – all the forests, old growth and second growth, naturally-regenerated, here on the Six Mountains, in the Cowichan Valley, in the province and throughout the world. Suzanne’s book and upcoming feature film are about to help make possible the protection of the last of the forest ecosystems.
The eyes of the world are upon us. The paradise where we live – not too long ago a remote valley – is already becoming a world renowned destination. The world has yet to learn about the extraordinary legacy of the Six Mountains Forest: a 5,000 hectare rare and endangered coastal ecosystem that our community has the right and power to protect. There is no other community in the country or on the continent with such a gift.
We have the opportunity to protect our community forest to become old growth. Suzanne has made it is easy for us to educate ourselves through her Ted Talk, How trees talk to each other https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2yBgIAxYs
Council is asking for our input: council@northcowichan.ca.
Icel Dobell,
Cowichan Valley,
(Founder of Where Do We Stand, a group advocating for the highest good of the North Cowichan municipal forest)