Hiking Guide to the Big Trees of Southwestern British Columbia. Rev. ed.

Susan Brown is a B.C. horticulturist, permaculture designer, and early
childhood education instructor.

Stoltmann has spent more than ten years seeking out, mapping, measuring,
and informing himself and others about the enormous conifers of
southwestern B.C. Some he measures at over 13 ft (4 m) in diameter and
up to 300 ft (92 m) tall. The central portion of this second edition of
his book consists of detailed directions to more than thirty hikes,
short walks, and roadside stops on Vancouver Island and the southwestern
B.C. mainland where heritage trees—some more than one thousand years
old—may be visited.

A concise introductory section characterizes the unique biological,
geological, and climatic events that support ancient rainforests. The
history and current status of protection for B.C.’s lowland forests is
discussed in detail.

The closing section leads the way to nine remaining coastal wilderness
areas, both protected and unprotected, giving a brief description of
what makes each special.

Reference materials include a table of “Largest and Tallest Recorded
B.C. Trees.” Many fine black-and-white photos allow the trees to speak
for themselves.

This is a clear, well-written guide that is obviously based on the
author’s extensive familiarity with every site he describes and the
natural processes at work there. The reader will learn which kinds of
forest situations can reproduce themselves and which kinds can probably
never recur again, the differences in impacts between forest fires and
clear-cutting, and the wildlife values of a forest of different tree
sizes and ages.

Since the region this book covers has some of the most spectacular
forests in the world, it should be of interest to people everywhere.
Whether one uses or peruses the guidebook aspect of Stoltmann’s work,
information is there to help us decide if we will help protect what
remains of our virgin big-tree forests. I believe access to this book
could well lead many Canadians to adventures and commitments that could
change their lives and life spans of the trees!

Proceeds from the sale of the book go toward research and education
about our largest, oldest, and tallest trees.