This investigation brings attention to the special value of trees of exceptional size or form, age or historical significance. Such trees, and sometimes the forest stands that contain them, having withstood the ravages of time over many centuries, can inspire awe and reverence, a sense of spirituality and connection to past events. Descriptors such as mammoth, heritage, cathedral-like, ancient, antique and monumental are not uncommon.

In May 2010, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a resident of Nanoose Bay about planned logging on District Lot (DL) 33. DL 33 is a 64-hectare parcel of Crown land near Nanoose Bay containing mature forest and some older veteran trees within the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. The complainant is concerned about the integrity of the ecosystem and wants DL 33 to be protected from logging. Should logging proceed, the complainant wants to know how wetlands, rare species, plant communities, fish streams, and groundwater values on DL 33 will be protected.

In February 2010, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a resident of Nanoose Bay about forest practices in the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem (CDF). The complainant is concerned about these issues:

• Whether government is abiding by an earlier commitment not to issue new forest tenures in the CDF.
• That district lot (DL) 33, a 64-hectare parcel of Crown land near Nanoose Bay, was not selected for ecosystem protection.
• The apparent lack of public consultation about proposed logging on DL 33.
• Whether government is adequately protecting the CDF ecosystem.