But as the arguments drone on, so does the rumble of log-laden trucks, carrying out the felled giants from their ancient hiding places. Only a catastrophic and inevitable fire can spark their regeneration. The interpretation only makes sense, however, if you look at the forest with a myopic focus on its profit potential for the lumber industry. This is where the vision of foresters and people like Ken Lertzman, assistant professor of natural resources management at Simon Fraser University, diverge. Where some foresters see decay, Lertzman sees the regenerative and natural processes of a healthy forest.
Dead trees provide habitat for a wide variety of insects, birds, and other animals.
And from the light that sifts through openings in the canopy of green overhead, a truly new forest emerges, says Lertzman. Old-growth is not just big old trees and big logs, but young trees as well. There is constant replacement going on, it is a dynamic forest, not stable or stagnant. The trees in these stands aren't as big or impressive as those in Carmanah. But this is still an extraordinarily beautiful forest and one of the best examples of old-growth in B.C, he says.