The Pacific Temperate Rainforest: How Climate Change Posts a Threat to One of the World's Most Unique Ecosystems

The Pacific Temperate Rainforest lies on the west coast of the North American continent that stretches from Alaska all the way down through British Columbia in Canada, the state of Washington, the state of Oregon, and eventually to the state of California.  The area is characterized by heavy rainfall and very moderate temperature throughout the year, which is a result of oceanic moist air colliding with the coastal mountains. Think about major cities in this region like Seattle or Vancouver: Both cities are renowned for having much rainfall during most of the year and warmer than average winters in compare to other cities at the same latitude.Yet both cities are surrounded by giant coniferous trees you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. That probably explains how Seattle got its nickname - "The Emerald City".

The Olympic National Park in Washington is a great showcase of the Pacific Temperate Rainforest

Approximately 50 miles west of Seattle is the Olympic National Park, one of three national parks located in the state of Washington. The park contains some of the best conserved temperate rainforests in the contiguous United States. In Hoh Rainforest, the trees are covered with moss and grow very densely close to each other. The coniferous leaves, despite their small sizes, make the sun barely going through to the ground. It almost makes people feel like that they are in a world of dark green, regardless of how strong the rare sunlight in the region might be. 

Inside the Hoh Rainforest: The trees are grown densely that even in the middle of the day the lights wouldn't penetrate through to the ground below. Many trees are covered by tree moss, which shows that the area is rich in rainfall throughout the year.

The plenty of rainfall and abundance in vegetation make the Pacific Temperate Rainforest a great place for animals to live. Giant glacial lakes and rivers in region, which contain full of nutrients, are popular breeding spots for Pacific Salmons. Each year millions of salmons would rush into the region and take over streams of major rivers such as the Fraser and the Columbia. In Northern British Columbia, there is a region known as the "Great Bear Rainforest". This region is home to thousands of black bears, grizzly bears, and the region's very own Kermode bears. Kermode bears, locally known as the "Spirit Bears", are black bears with white or creamed colored bodies instead of black ones. About one tenth of the black bear population in the region will have this kind of feature. Nonetheless, it's very rare to spot these bears. Every year people from all over the world visit the Great Bear Rainforest spending thousands of dollars just to have an encounter with the Kermode Bears, and only the lucky ones are able to do so.

Plants growing in a creek in Hoh Rainforest. Abundant water resources in the region makes the area very rich in nutrients, which is able to support a large number of plants and animals

A young black tailed deer

A major problem the Pacific Temperate Rainforest and its permanent residents such as the Kermode Bears and the Pacific Salmons are facing nowadays is the global climate change. In 2015 the state of California, Washington, and the province of British Columbia had declared drought warnings as the region embraced one of the hottest summers ever recorded. Multiple forest fire destroyed thousands hectares of pristine rainforests and many people who live in the region had to be evacuated. The city of Vancouver and its surrounding region known as the BC Lower Mainland was covered by heavy smog for more than an entire week. 

Trees covered by smog caused by forest fire

Trees covered by the smog caused by forest fire

One of  the serious consequences forest fires bring to the Pacific Temperate Rainforest ecosystem is that it directly and indirectly destroys animal habitats. Many animals rely on the trees and plants as sources of their diet in order to survive. When forest fire happens, animals like bears will lose their habitats and plant eating animals like caribous will be forced to relocate to other regions where they are unlikely to find the same type or the amount of food the Pacific Temperate Rainforest is able to provide. The ashes from forest fires,  as well as the burnt trees will sharply reduce the oxygen level and the amount of nutrients in the nearby lakes and other types of water bodies and cause tremendous pollution to the water sources. In the end, it could potentially threaten the fish and  other aquatic dwelling species living in the region. 

A completely dried lake during the heat of 2015 in British Columbia

An alpine lake covered by the fallouts and dusts of the forest fire in 2015

Regardless of whether the climate change is man made or it occurs naturally, the fact is that a warmer globe will lead to catastrophic consequences to some of the earth's most unique yet fragile ecosystems like the Pacific Temperate Forest.  Human efforts to protect and conserve the environment is particular important in terms of preventing the fast speed of deterioration of the environment caused by human and natural factors. Such efforts, however, are not merely based on the works of one or two people. Awareness must be raised at a broader level to the extent that most people know and get educated about the facts about our environment - Only when most people know, they will begin to care.