Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is now protected. In „natur“, Germany’s leading nature magazine, I explain what it is all about. Here are some impressions.
In February 2016 the government of British Columbia, Canada, announced a final agreement on the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest. Conservationists, politicians and the forest industry had debated about it for more than two decades. I have accompanied the process as a journalist and wildlife photographer.
I am very happy and feel privileged that I got the chance to experience a very unique environment – that supporters enabled me to climb into the canopy of a 80 meter high Sitka spruce in Carmanah Valley, that I could paddle with the tides through the Inside passage and I once had diner with a spirit bear.
My latest article on the subject is now released in the german magazine „natur“, 07/2016
Thanks to all my supporters and friends especially Wayne McCrory, Arni, Carola, Uli, Martin, Gillian, Juliet and Lydia
The following photos will give you an impression about the wonders of this magic forest world – and how one can enjoy it:

Welcome to the Great Bear Rainforest. Please enter!

A black Kermode bear crossing a bay on Princess Royal Island at high tide

Just at sunset the sky opens a small gap over Vancouver Island.

A Spirit bear shaking off water after a failed attempt to catch a salmon

Orcas crossing Johnstone Straight

Kayakers playing with orcas near Telegraph Cove

Drying equipment after many days of rain in Laredo inlet / Princess Royal Island

Waiting for the bears to show up along the coast

Arni in his first class mobile bear viewing platform

A gull within the rainforest (upper right corner) waiting for a salmon egg to float by.

The coastal mountains seen from Princess Royal Island

A bleached fern frond among Canadian dogwood

rainbow and purple sky over Princess Royal Island

Ghost forest: branches of a coastal hemlock covered with moss and lichen

A spirit bear: cream-colored and yet somehow camouflaged

close but peaceful encounter

Spirit bear checking the shore for washed ashore dead salmon

a friend

bear of fortune: the one who could have killed my dear

Chief Lysichiton, native from Pooley Island

Diving in the Pacific

A pink or humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) – Buckellachs – gets airborne

my one car, my two sandals, my three cubs (well hers)

Do you want to join me?

Who are you?

the beauty of the rainforest

at work: taking photos of salmon

portrait of a Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) – Rotlachs

dinner is ready! – almost

A brown bear crossing a bay at Knight Inlet

brown bear and cub at Knight Inlet

One of the best work places on the planet for sure

an evening guest

young and ambitious, but still not experienced enough to catch a big salmon

Soaking wet, yes. But never regretting, the trip into THE FOREST