By Elisia Seeber, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A giant has fallen in North Vancouver.

Capilano River Regional Park has said goodbye to one of its last standing sentinel trees.

The Douglas fir tree, estimated to be around 500 years old, two metres in diameter, and 58 metres tall, fell on Dec. 8, 2020 due to natural causes.

B次元官网网址淚t was felled by laminated root rot, a natural process that affects many Douglas fir trees as well as other conifers,B次元官网网址� said a Metro Vancouver Regional Parks spokesperson.

Laminated root rot is caused by a fungal pathogen, Phellinus weirii, which spreads when healthy roots of a tree come into contact with diseased roots. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of the most damaging root diseases in British Columbia for Douglas fir and grand fir trees, according to the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Field Guide to Forest Damage in B.C. report.

B次元官网网址淭he disease causes root decay, which can lead to significant growth reduction, and makes trees susceptible to toppling,B次元官网网址� the report states.

The huge tree was a familiar sight to park visitors on the Giant Fir Trail and survived its fair share of battles over the hundreds of years it stood tall watching over the forest.

B次元官网网址淭his tree survived centuries of challenges, from fierce storms to raging fires, attacks by insects, fungus and disease,B次元官网网址� said the spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淚t also escaped the axes and saws of logging in the early 1900s.B次元官网网址�

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Fortunately, there are other surviving giant Douglas fir trees in the park.

B次元官网网址淭he good news is that the tree has a sister just a few metres away B次元官网网址� even larger B次元官网网址� that lives on,B次元官网网址� said the spokesperson. The well-known Grandfather Capilano is also nearby, estimated to be more than 800 years old.

The fallen tree will now remain in the forest B次元官网网址� with a new purpose.

B次元官网网址淭he fallen tree will be left in place and has already begun the process of giving back to the forest ecosystem,B次元官网网址� said the spokesperson. B次元官网网址淚nsects will break down the wood. Birds, squirrels, and other creatures will make their home in the hollowed-out spaces and feed on the insects.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏it by bit, the nutrients contained in the fallen tree will be released back into the forest floor and will be used by surrounding trees to grow bigger and taller.B次元官网网址�