Government of British Columbia Home page
Print Close

Coast Forest Region Version 6 Provincial Biogeoclimatic Zones
Variant: CWHds2 Coastal Western Hemlock, Central Dry Submaritime
Description: DISTRIBUTION: The CWHds2 occurs at low elevations in submaritime and subcontinental areas north of the head of Knight Inlet. Its major occurrences include the lower Klinaklini, Bella Coola, Talchako, and Dean valleys. Elevational limits range from valley bottom to approximately 500 m.

CLIMATE: The CWHds2 has a climate transitional between the coast and interior, characterized by warm, dry summers and moist, cool winters with moderate snowfall. Growing seasons feature water deficits on zonal sites.

VEGETATION: Forests on zonal sites are dominated by Fd, Hw, Cw, and minor paper birch. The understorey is characterized by relatively poorly developed shrub and herb layers featuring some Douglas maple and minor amounts of queen's cup, with a well-developed moss layer dominated by Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus triquetris, and minor amounts of Rhytidiopsis robusta and Pleurozium schreberi.


Area (Ha): 81658.43  
TEM Area (Ha): 28659.46  
% of Prov BEC w/ TEM: 35.10  
  For lists of red and blue listed communities and species in this subzone, please search within the Ministry of Environment's BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer
Further Links:
  1. Download Special Report Series 6 [Chapter 6] in PDF Format
  2. The Ecology of the Coastal Western Hemlock Zone - Brochure 31
  3. A Field Guide to Site Identification and Interpretation for the Vancouver Forest Region
  4. TEM Website
Print Close