Operating on every continent
Pseudotsuga menziezii is renowned as one of the tallest trees of the modern era on the planet. In Canada, several specimens exceed 100 meters in height and are not far from catching up to Sequoia sempervirens, which are the tallest trees in the world. The Douglas fir is also exceptionally long-lived; it can live between 400 and 500 years, and some specimens reach a thousand years. The largest Douglas fir is found in Canada, with a diameter of 4.2 meters.
The Douglas fir grows rapidly, making it a top choice in forestry. It has taken over parts of our forests, planted in straight, orderly rows. It is cultivated intensively, using the same methods as in agriculture. In some places, these tree plantations are beginning to replace the biodiverse forests we are familiar with. This poses a threat to our natural forests, which are increasingly being cleared to make way for Douglas fir plantations.
Did you know that the Douglas fir is one of the trees used to build a lot of things? People like to use me outdoors because the center of my trunk is rot-resistant, which means I don’t rot.
