"Rare Discovery by Tree Hunter Sheds Light on Forest Conservation"

TJ Watt, a forest explorer and self-described "tree hunter," discovered a massive western red cedar tree standing 151 feet tall and 17.5 feet in diameter on Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. Believed to be over 1,000 years old, the tree is one of the largest old-growth cedars ever documented in the region. Watt kept the tree's location a secret to protect it and sought input from the Ahousaht First Nation, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. The discovery highlights the importance of preserving old-growth forests, which have been heavily logged in the region.