When most people think of rainforests, Avatar-like visions of lush equatorial forests populated by howler monkeys swinging from treetops, colorful butterflies and toucans punctuating the green background, and aboriginal people coexisting with the rainforest’s life-support systems come to mind. But not all rainforests are in the tropics. Temperate and boreal rainforests make up less than 3 percent of the Earth’s forests, are found in only 10 regions, are globally important, but many are endangered. The Pacific Coastal region of North America contains the largest concentration in the world. Our rainforests of home help to regulate the global climate, have unique plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth, some of which live in the tallest treetops and in the soils, and support world-class fisheries essential to subsistence lifestyles and regional economies. Collectively, the world’s “forgotten rainforests” are so named because they are not included in international accords to protect and sustainably manage rainforests. I will present a “virtual tour” of my travels to call attention to forgotten rainforests and what can be done to save them.

This presentation will also be made available to remote participants through Livestream. Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely.

Sponsored by the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute at UNBC and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS).
Supported by an endowment from the former Northwood Pulp and Timber Limited, now Canfor.