What role does the temperate rainforest play in western Canada?

When you think of Canada, dense forests and wild nature come to mind. And rightly so: 70% of the country consists of large natural areas. 34% of Canada's land area is covered by forest, 53% of which is virgin forest. In total, Canada is home to 20% of the world's remaining wilderness areas, but this pioneer dream of endless expanses is fading. 

Everyone knows about the value and threat to the Amazon rainforest. But hardly anyone talks about British Columbia's forgotten ecosystem: it is home to the world's last large contiguous area of temperate rainforest. This primeval forest is a wonder of nature. It is home to wild coastal wolves, salmon-fishing bald eagles, mystical spirit bears, rare carnivorous sundews, and gigantic forest giants such as maple trees, Alaska cedars, Douglas firs, and giant arborvitae trees, which can live up to 2,000 years and grow to a height of 100 meters. This makes the primeval forests of western Canada the most species-rich ecosystem in the northern hemisphere. In addition, the forests, primeval giants, and forest bogs in our Canadian protected areas are absolute masters of CO2 storage and one of the most important "sinks" in the Earth's carbon cycle.

And yet British Columbia is one of the last jurisdictions in the world that continues to allow large-scale logging of 600- to 1,800-year-old old-growth forest giants. Between 2003 and 2010, deforestation in British Columbia alone was responsible for higher annual CO2 emissions than the entire country of Finland. The main causes are the timber industry, agriculture, and infrastructure construction.