The Walbran Valley is a treasure house, a repository of genetic adaptation and diversity. The deeply sheltered and protected valleys, the relatively mild, wet weather and the fertile floodplain soils have allowed for veteran forest trees to reach Goliath proportions. Some trees like towering behemoths, others like massive cathedrals, bring a sense of wonder and inspiration to the deeply spiritual character of these groves.
One is left humble in the presence of these splendors of nature. These silent sentinels of the forest should command our respect and nurture our "conservation ethic"so future generations can enjoy their graceful elegance for perpetuity.

The plants and animals of the Walbran Valley have evolved undisturbed for over 10,000 years among the river valleys and highlands. Regional sediments and soils vary considerably rom each other throughout the region. In places, molten rock cut across the ancient terrain creating unique geological formations. The degree of glaciation and the diverse nature of the rocks have produced some interesting features, such as the hanging valley of the West Walbran and it's waterfalls, the truncated spurs of Housecone mountain, the floodplain features of the East Walbran, and the marbled canyons throughout the Main Walbran. Rare bog forests habitats can be found at higher altitudes around glacially formed mountain lakes.

The convergence of the main tributaries, along with succession and disturbance, accounts for the diversity of the varying forests that have developed. These would include the floodplain Sitka Spruce groves of the west and east valleys, the Yellow Ceadar, Mountain Hemlock, White Pine uplands, and the Douglas Fir islands.

The unique assemblage of species has filled every available niche. Recent studies in the West Walbran Valleys have revealed that "a number of inverebrates in this ecosystem are either rare or endangered" (R.A. Ring, N. N Winchester University of Victoria pers. Comm, 1993). The decline in insect populations is indicative of a crisis caused by human removal of old growth habitat. Of the 80 plus fauna species recorded in this area, seven species are "Blue Listed" (threatened with endangerment). On top of that, two species, the Marbled murrelet and the Northern Goshawk are "Red Listed", and facing extinction due to direct habitat loss and food chain disruptions.

The large volumes of water that were produced during the glacial retreat allowed fish to penetrate deep into the West and East Valley floodplain forests. Over time as the water levels dropped, a unique dispersal of fish developed in the area. The landlocked fish of the West Valley evolved and adapted to produce a "unique sub-species trout", along with Kokanee and Dollay Varden. The East Valley retained a resident Rainbow Trout population, while the upper main Walbran canyon and mouth of the East Walbran remained ocean going for Coho salmon, Steelhead trout, and Coastal Cutthrout trout.