The Ancient Forest and surrounding area has what it takes to be a world heritage site, according to representatives from the Caledonia Ramblers and UNBC who addressed the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Thursday afternoon.
"I've had the good fortune to visit similar sites around the world. Sites that have the same values as the Ancient Forest trail site in developed countries are nearly all world heritage sites," said Darwyn Coxson, who was one of the authors on a discussion paper published in 2012 suggesting the area has the defining qualities for a nomination for such an accolade.
The process of receiving a UNESCO World Heritage or Biosphere Reserve designation would have to start with the area being turned into a provincial park. The federal government would then have to nominate the park to the UN for the honour.
"When we looked at some of their criteria selection criteria - to be outstanding examples of ecological and biological processes - those small patches of inland rainforest, scientifically are just absolutely unique," Coxson told the board of directors. "There's nothing like them in the world. Around the world other temperate rainforests are within a stone's throw of the ocean."
Early conversations with provincial parks and government representatives, as well as local First Nations have all been supportive of the idea, said Dave King.
Regional district directors added their names to the list of advocates by resolving to write a letter to the Caledonia Ramblers in support of the project.
