Measuring trees – introducing our new “how-to” video series

We are thrilled to be releasing video tutorials on how to measure trees that we co-created with Nerdy About Nature! We’ve learned so much from Ross Reid, the ‘nerd’ behind Nerdy About Nature, so when we were thinking about making this video resource, teaming up with him to co-create tutorial videos on how to measure trees seemed like the perfect idea.

Measuring trees and logging them into Big Tree Registries is a great way to participate in community-science. These videos demystify collecting measurements like tree height and crown spread, demonstrating how easy it is to contribute to conservation science. We hope that after watching them, more people feel encouraged to nominate the big trees they encounter to local registries. These registries not only raise awareness about the importance of healthy trees and forests, but also help identify areas of high conservation priority, providing valuable information to encourage the protection of trees. It’s also a great activity to do outside.

The contest

Along with the release of the video, we have launched a contest that will run until August 16th. Participants will have a chance to win a great prize pack filled with nifty tools to measure big trees.

To enter, all you have to do is nominate a tree into a big tree registry in your region and send us a screenshot as proof to bigtree [at] raincoast [dot] org. From there you’ll have a chance to win:

• A DBH tape – a simple tool to measure the diameter of trees without doing any math.
• A meter tape – to help you in measuring the height and crown spread of trees.
• A copy of Plants Of Coastal British Columbia: Including Washington, Oregon And Alaska by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon – our favorite for IDing tree and plant species in the Pacific Northwest.
• A Patagonia hat, tumbler, bamboo utensils set, and backpack – all handy gear to have along on your tree hunt!
• Raincoast and Nerdy about Nature swag – including a tote bag, art cards, and stickers and pins to share with all your pals!

Wildwood Ecoforest

We met up with Ross to film the videos at Wildwood Ecoforest, in Ladysmith, territories of the Stz’uminus and Snuneymuxw. While filming, we explored the 77-acre old growth forest, which has been selectively logged since 1945. This forest stands as a testament to ecoforestry, demonstrating how sustainable logging practices maintain forest health and resilience. Showcasing alternative approaches to forestry is especially important right now, as conventional clearcut logging of the last remaining old growth forests in British Columbia is ongoing, despite political promises that this practice would be stopped.  Walking through the cool air under the canopies of ancient giants at Wildwood was a refreshing reminder that there are better ways of doing business.

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.