Colleen McCrory and the Inland Temperate Rainforest

When Colleen McCrory learned that the lush Interior Cedar-Hemlock forests in her region contained rare Inland Temperate Rainforest found nowhere else in the world, she thought it should be treated as a global biodiversity heritage. Instead forests that had been growing uninterrupted for thousands of years were being devastated by chainsaw, and few people knew about it.

A small group of key activists were trying to stop this. Nine years ago they came together and took steps to begin a joint conservation project over the whole region. Many scientists, organizations and First Nations have contributed their knowledge to the project and the protection activities; but there is no question that Colleen McCrory was the visionary person who pushed through innumerable obstacles to help bring their efforts together.

As on the coast in the Great Bear Rainforest, this project is dedicated to protecting, not just a place, but an ecosystem of humid, coniferous forests that are now critically important to the world in the face of global warming. Over 19 environmental groups and 50 scientists have signed agreements, petitions and letters stating that Inland Rainforest Region needs numerous new protected areas and park expansions.

All the grassroots environmental groups and some First Nations are considering new protected areas. In April of this year Colleen and the Valhalla Wilderness Society publicly released a new park proposal, the Selkirk Mountain Caribou Park Proposal.