Forest Values Surrounding Ancient Cedar Stands in British Columbia's Inland Temperate Rainforest

FOREST VALUES SURROUNDING ANCIENT CEDAR STANDS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA’S INLAND TEMPERATE RAINFOREST by Jessica N. Shapiro B.A., McGill University, 2009 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA August 2012 © Jessica N. Shapiro, 2012 ABSTRACT The Inland Temperate Rainforest (ITR) of British Columbia is a globally unique ecosystem containing areas of high biodiversity, including ancient cedar stands in the upper Fraser River valley. The forest is located in a region historically focused on the economic values of timber. Increased research about and recreational use of the forest, however, has demonstrated a wider array of forest values that is yet to be fully documented. The purpose of this research is to document the breadth of forest values surrounding the ancient cedar stands to gain a better understanding of the significance of this globally unique forest. Through content analysis, as well as surveys conducted in two communities in the ITR, data were collected from trail users, the public, and local residents. Results reveal a broad set of forest values that inform the ongoing debate currently surrounding the best and highest use of the ancient cedar stands. Keywords: globally unique ecosystem, ancient cedar stands, forest values ii Table of Contents Abstract ii Table of Contents iii List of Tables, Charts, and Figures v Dedication & Acknowledgements vi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 1.1 Research Question 1 1.2 Chapter Preview 5 CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review 7 2.1 The Evolution of Forest Values 7 2.2 Value Sources and Categories 11 2.3 Forest Values 12 2.4 Forest Value Frameworks 15 2.5 Measuring Values 20 2.5.1 Surveys 21 2.5.2 Content Analysis 22 2.5.3 Interviews 23 2.5.4 Limitations 24 CHAPTER THREE: Methods 26 3.1 Overall Approach 26 3.2 Ancient Forest Trail Guestbook and Surveys 26 3.2.1 Data Collection 26 3.2.2 Data Analysis 28 3.3 Media Database 30 3.3.1 Data Collection 30 3.3.2 Data Analysis 30 3.4 Interview Database 31 3.4.1 Data Collection 31 3.4.2 Data Analysis 37 3.4.3 Ethics 37 CHAPTER FOUR: Results 38 4.1 Introduction 38 4.1.1 Guestbook and Survey Profile 38 4.1.2 Media Profile 39 4.1.3 Household Interview Profile 39 4.2 Economic Values 40 4.2.1 Guestbook and Surveys 40 4.2.2 Media Pieces 42 4.2.3 Household Interviews 45 4.3 Life-Support Values 49 4.3.1 Guestbook and Surveys 50 4.3.2 Media Pieces 50 iii 4.3.3 Household Interviews 51 4.4 Socio-Cultural Values 54 4.4.1 Guestbook and Surveys 54 4.4.2 Media Pieces 56 4.4.3 Household Interviews 57 4.5 Ethical Values 58 4.5.1 Guestbook and Surveys 59 4.5.2 Media Pieces 60 4.5.3 Household Interviews 61 4.6 Spiritual Values 63 4.6.1 Guestbook and Surveys 64 4.6.2 Media Pieces 65 4.6.3 Household Interviews 65 4.7 Aesthetic Values 66 4.7.1 Guestbook and Surveys 66 4.7.2 Media Pieces 67 4.7.3 Household Interviews 68 4.8 Results of Quantitative Analysis 68 4.8.1 Forests versus Ancient Cedar Stands 68 4.8.2 Most Important Cedar Values 69 4.8.3 Relationships between forest values and sociodemographic characteristics 71 CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion 74 5.1 Sources of Values 74 5.2 Significance of Values 76 5.2.1 Conflicting Values 76 5.2.2 Informing the Debate 78 5.3 Implications for Forest Management 79 5.3.1 Future Research 80 5.4 Limitations of the Research Design 82 CHAPTER SIX: Conclusion 85 References 87 Appendix A: Consent Form 94 Appendix B: Sample of Interview Questions 95 Appendix C: Personal Background 97 iv List of Tables Table 1: Forest Value Framework Definitions 19 Table 2: Guestbook Trail User Origins 27 Table 3: Media Sources 30 List of Charts Chart 1: Importance of all forests versus ancient cedar stands 69 Chart 2: The ‘Most Important’ Values Selected by Local Residents 70 Chart 3: ‘Most Important’ Values Arranged by Subcategory 71 Chart 4: ‘Most Important’ Values Selected At Least Once Per Subcategory 71 Chart 5: Value Categories Favoured by Males and Females 72 Chart 6: Value Categories Favoured by Dome Creek and Crescent Spur 72 Chart 7: Value Categories Favoured by Years Lived in the Valley 73 List of Figures: Figure 1: Location of Prince George and McBride in British Columbia 1 Figure 2: The ICH Subzone of British Columbia’s Inland Rainforest 2 Figure 3: Location of Ancient Forest Trail 2 Figure 4: Map of Communities Dome Creek and Crescent Spur 4 Figure 5: Forest Value Framework 16 Figure 6: Old-Growth Forest Value Framework 18 Figure 7: Modified Moyer et al. (2008) Old-Growth Forest Value Framework 29 Figure 8: ITR Community Map 32 Figure 9: Dome Creek Household Map 33 Figure 10: Crescent Spur Household Map 34 v DEDICATION For my father, to whom I owe everything. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the head that helped me formulate my greatest ideas, to the eyes that read every last word of this thesis, to the hands that held me through joy and frustration, and to the heart that believed in me, unwaveringly, every step of the way. John, this would have not been possible without you. Thank you to my mother, my brother, my sister, and my grandparents for loving me so much that I had the confidence to take on this huge project. Thank you to my supervisor for introducing me to the cedars, for bringing a clear mind to an often messy state of ideas, and for always answering the phone willing to help. Thank you to my committee members for caring about my work. Thank you to my friends, Reza, Heather, and Eric, for being by my side as I explored this northern wilderness, and for making me laugh, often uncontrollably, under the pressure of this degree. Thank you to Hugh and Kathy, Steve and Nikky, and Nowell, for accepting me into your homes and your hearts, for accommodating me throughout my research, and for inspiring me to feel the unique presence of your forests and your communities. Finally, thank you to the Caledonia Ramblers for their dedication and selfless effort in the creation and maintenance of the Ancient Forest Trail – a pillar of outdoor recreation in the Robson Valley that visitors continue to enjoy year after year. vi Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Research Question The Inland Temperate Rainforest (ITR) is a globally unique wetbelt ecosystem located in east-central British Columbia, Canada (B.C.) (Figure 1). Unlike the coastal temperate rainforests for which B.C. is most well-known, the ITR is located more than 500km inland, along the western slopes of the interior mountains. Few forests in the world parallel its biodiversity value (ILMB 2008), which makes it an important habitat for many threatened or endangered species ranging from mountain caribou to canopy lichens and old-growth (OGF) or ancient forests (Stevenson et al. 2011). Though this rainforest has likely been discovered several times over by First Nations peoples, early European settlers, and loggers, it has only recently been discovered for its ecological and recreational values, especially in the old-growth forests, making it a popular destination for research and outdoor activity. Figure 1. Location of Prince George and McBride in British Columbia Specific hotspots for biodiversity exist within the moist, wet, and very wet Interior Cedar-Hemlock (ICH) subzones of the ITR, where stands of old-growth cedar trees are able to reach ages up to 1,000 years or more (B.C. Forest Professional Magazine 2010). A particularly rich ICH subzone is located in the upper Fraser River valley, concentrated between the communities of Prince George and McBride (see Figure 2). This area supports one of the largest remaining areas of ancient western redcedars in B.C.’s Interior (B.C. Forest Professional Magazine 2010). 1 Figure 2. The ICH Subzone of British Columbia’s inland rainforest Source: Stevenson et al. 2011. In 2006, community members of the upper Fraser built the Ancient Forest Trail (AFT), a 3-km hike that runs through an old-growth cedar stand 113km west of Prince George (see Figure 3). Since its opening, the trail has become a popular destination for day-trippers and international tourists, experiencing a steady growth of visitors each year (Connell and Shapiro 2012). Increased awareness of the inland rainforest in this region can be attributed to the trail’s popularity, as well as the publicity in the media that has surrounded it. Figure 3. Location of Ancient Forest Trail Source: Google Maps 2012. 2 Values concerning the stands of ancient cedar trees in the ITR have predominantly focused on the economic worth of timber, since the region in which it is located depends on an economy dominated by forestry (Robson et al. 2000). However, since scientists, area residents, tourists, recreationists, and other members of the public have come to appreciate the global significance of the ITR, it has become apparent that there exist other types of values surrounding the ancient cedar forest that have not yet been documented. The study of forest values includes the documentation and analysis of values relating to the material resources of a forest that contribute to human physical well-being, the intangible benefits of a forest that contribute to the nonmaterial dimensions of the quality of life, and the intrinsic benefits of a forest that exist independently of humankind (Putney 2003).

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