Forest Conservation Program

Coastal Douglas-fir forests and associated habitats are among the most threatened ecosystems in the country.

Photo by Alex Harris /
Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Raincoast’s Forest Conservation Program is focused on addressing biodiversity loss, climate change and other human-caused stresses on Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) habitats. With a limited geographic extent, including only the southeastern edge of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and a sliver of BC’s mainland, it is essential that these ecosystems are protected and conserved before it is too late. 

Hummingbird up close.
Photo by Oliver Tweedie.
A Rough-skinned newt moves slowly over the forest floor.
Photo by Alex Harris / Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Understanding biodiversity loss, climate change, and anthropogenic impacts

Globally unique to the south coast of British Columbia, this collection of highly diverse ecosystems includes sand dunes, estuaries, Garry oak meadows, and rocky outcrops, among many other ecological communities. Forests here are characterized by tree species like coastal Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and arbutus. The CDF covers less than 1% of provincial land area, with the Salish Sea’s Gulf Islands hosting over 30% of its provincial extent.

Almost all of the original CDF forests have been logged since the early 1900s and a further 30% of second-growth has been converted to rural, urban, agricultural, and industrial use since 2008. The province’s last State of the Forests report, released in 2010, found that the CDF is BC’s most converted zone, with nearly twice the amount of deforested and fragmented land compared to the next most converted zone. This includes the province’s highest road density that profoundly fragments CDF habitats. Currently, 127 native plant and animal species characteristic to CDF ecosystems are on the provincial “Red” list. This includes iconic ecological communities  characterized by the presence of arbutus and Garry oak. Further, recent anecdotal reports of deterioration of arbutus, western redcedar, grand fir and coastal Douglas-fir indicate that climate change is already influencing these important ecosystems.

Informed advocacy and community engagement

Using Raincoast’s signature approach of informed advocacy, the Forest Conservation Program combines community engagement with science and policy review to achieve tangible conservation outcomes. Our work includes working with local Nations, civic governments, organizations, and community members to slow and reverse the destruction of these fragile, ecologically important, and culturally significant places through advocacy, community science initiatives, ecological investigation, and most recently, permanent land protection through property acquisition. Our preliminary focus is on North (S,DÁYES in the SENĆOŦEN language of the W̱SÁNEĆ) and South Pender Islands. As our work expands to other Gulf Islands, we commit to honoring the lands and culture of additional First Nations who call these Islands home. 

Oregon grape plant with rain on it.
Photo by Alex Harris / Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
Mushroom in the sun with spores flying out.
Photo by Alex Harris.

W̱SÁNEĆ territory

In the southern Gulf Islands and Saanich Peninsula, much of the Coastal Douglas-fir forests and associated habitats exist within W̱SÁNEĆ territory. These unceded lands have been inhabited by the W̱SÁNEĆ people, also known as the Saltwater or Coast Salish People, since time immemorial. Brought here by the creator, XÁLS, following the great flood, the W̱SÁNEĆ people were given the responsibility of caring for their relatives: the Islands of the Salish Sea. As such, in addition to their ecological significance, these habitats hold tremendous cultural and spiritual value.

Two ravens on a branch in a misty estuary.

The Story of the CDF

A series of articles curated by Forest Conservation Program Director Shauna Doll and contributed to by expert Traditional Knowledge Holders, ecologists, conservation scientists, social scientists, ethnobotanists, and others to increase understanding of some of the most threatened ecological communities in British Columbia.

Recent articles

Our field team navigating to shore on their way to a camera service.

What forests mean to coastal wildlife

We know that old-growth forests provide many important services to coastal species, but when these environments are…

A field scientists walk in the central coast rainforest watching and counting salmon

Creekwalking in Heiltsuk Territory

This past fall, Raincoast’s Wild Salmon team and technicians from the Reynolds Lab at Simon Fraser University…

A pack of black wolves, with a large wolf in the front, walks out through an opening in the forest.

The current situation for wolves in British Columbia

The level of human-caused wolf mortality can only be described as staggering.

An aerial view of a clearcut area with mountains in the background.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: Protect and connect

Connectivity is vitally important at all sorts of scales over time and space.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: All about fungi

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: All about fungi

In this article, Dr. Shannon Berch and Dr. Paul de la Bastide explain some of the deep…

View of a small area of water surrounded by forest on North Pender Island.

The Islands Trust is failing to protect water and forests

Islands in the Salish Sea are experiencing a worsening seasonal water deficit.

Small mushrooms on a mossy log.

Fire risk reduction in the Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone

Introducing a new practitioner’s report focused on reducing fire risk by increasing ecological integrity.

Deer in a coastal douglas fir forest.

Embracing complexity: Exploring carbon sequestration in two highly interconnected ecosystems    

The Coastal Carnivores and Carbon project seeks to explore the role salmon abundance and large carnivore foraging…

Two people admiring a very large cedar tree.

Big tree registries offer an opportunity for community engagement and conservation this summer

Big trees instill awe and connection in the human communities that surround them.

Two people measuring a large douglas fir tree.

Pender Island Big Tree Blitz

Join Raincoast and the Pender Islands Conservancy for a morning of big tree hunting on Pender Islands.

Young spotted owl in a tree.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: All about owls

As the worst fire season in Canadian historyーdriven by climate change, ecosystem fragmentation, and long-term land-use mismanagementーdecimates…

Overhead photo of a forest next to the ocean.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: Classifying place

In this article, Del Meidinger who led the development of the BEC system in British Columbia and…

Someone writing in a field journal in a forest.

Job posting: Big tree intern

Applications close June 2, 2023.

Morel mushroom on the forest floor.

Purchasing for protection: A perpetual Sophie’s choice for conservationists

When property prices are too high to protect these places via purchase, can we count on public…

Stunning landscape on the shores of the Fraser River with the coastal mountains looming in the background.

Reflecting on the recent IPCC report and what we can do

Though the conclusions of the International Panel on Climate Change report are grim, protecting and restoring natural…

Orange mushroom growing up through moss.

Delegating to the Islands Trust: The 30×30 challenge

Forest Conservation Program Director Shauna Doll made a delegation to Islands Trust Council urging them to incorporate…

Tal grafting a log with his hands in a forest.

Maxwell Creek Watershed Project Field Files Part 5: Experimental forest restoration methodologies

Together this community of practice has been developing new approaches to manage growing concerns around the degraded…

Coastline with trees growing on it.

Local engagement: letters to elected representatives can help make change

Raincoast scientists have been engaging in work related to conservation action on the Gulf Islands for many…

Introducing the British Columbia Big Tree Project map

Introducing the British Columbia Big Tree Project map

Raincoast’s Big Tree Project map will help connect BC-based community scientists with the big tree monitoring project…

Three people standing in a restoration zone in the Maxwell Creek watershed.

Maxwell Creek Watershed Project Field Files Part 4: Managing fire in a climatically uncertain future

As previous installments of the Field Files series have established, since settler arrival in the Coastal Douglas-fir…

Land protection in some of Canada’s most threatened terrestrial habitats

Land protection in some of Canada’s most threatened terrestrial habitats

Raincoast established the Forest Conservation Program (formerly known as the Gulf Islands Forest Project) in 2019 with…

Frog on a blade of grass.

We did it! KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest has been protected!

KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest has been secured as an essential piece of a larger nature corridor.

Two huge clearcuts next to each other on Salt Spring Island.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: The biodiversity potential of privately-owned land

Registered Professional Biologist and Planner, Adriane Pollard, has been working to improve local protections of Coastal Douglas-fir…

Frog climbing a cedar tree with a map overlay showing where Maxwell Creek Watershed is located on Salt Spring Island.

Maxwell Creek Watershed Project Field Files Part 3: Mapping the watershed

Multiple practitioners working under the umbrella of the Maxwell Creek Watershed Project (MCWP or “the Project”) have…

Bat with big ears on a rock.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: All about bats

Widely misrepresented and misunderstood, bats are fascinating creatures with an essential role to play in ecosystem functionality.

Forest in the snow with sun.

Protecting threatened forest ecosystems in BC

We are increasing our efforts to heal CDF forests through land-based restoration, community engagement, education, and research,…

Bird in the cold all puffed up.

Over $2 million has been raised to protect KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest

It has been less than a year since we launched our campaign to permanently protect KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher…

Belted Kingfisher on a branch.

All we want for the holidays is a belted kingfisher in a fir tree!

As we move into the last thirty days of our collaborative campaign to purchase and protect this…

Wolf standing on the beach.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: Coexisting with carnivores

Dr. Justin Suraci shares his experiences studying predator-prey relationships in the Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) ecosystems of the…

Birds eye view of a forest with development plans over.

The story behind our campaign to protect KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest

With an approved development plan in place, a road already built, and 15 wells drilled, the “Harbour…

Belted Kingfisher close up looking to the side.

A chance to double your donation to KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest!

We are thrilled to announce a donation matching campaign to support the purchase and permanent protection of…

Birds eye view of a coastal forest next to the ocean.

Celebrating the success of the first annual EcoFair 

EcoFair provided opportunities for land based education.

Overhead view of Coastal Douglas-fir forest.

Entering the homestretch of the KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest fundraising campaign

Over the past ten months, Raincoast and the Pender Islands Conservancy have raised $1,445,656.46 to protect this…

Four people sitting on a hill in a forest.

Trees to Seas EcoExpo and Conservation Conversations

Unlike industry-led expos, which generally feature products and business pitches, EcoExpo will be a chance to interact…

Woman in a plaid shirt with a shovel digging invasive Daphne plants.

Restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ at EcoFair

PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ or “The Blossoming Place” is a charitable, non-profit organization that provides participatory education opportunities about…

Building with garage doors on a sunny day.

Trees to Seas EcoFair Evening Gala Fundraiser

The Evening Gala Fundraiser has been planned as an evening of networking and celebration.

Mushroom in the sun with spores flying out.

Fungi Foray with Hugues Massicotte

From October 22-23, 2022, Dr. Hugues Massicotte will be on S,DÁYES for EcoFair, an initiative organized by…

Hornby Island as seen from the air during a herring spawn.

The story of Coastal Douglas-fir forests: All about Hornby Island

This installment is the third of several articles seeking to explore the ways ecosystems  differ between the…

Ecofair Trees to Seas on October 22-23, hosted by Pender Conservancy, Pender Pod, and Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Art supporting science

There is a silent auction at EcoFair and the proceeds will go towards permanently protecting KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher…

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