THE PORTION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WE SEE FROM THE BOAT IS TINY INDEED BUT THE COMBINATION OF THE WORKING COAST AND ECOTOURISM GIVES A GLIMPSE OF A FUTURE THAT RECONCILES INDUSTRY AND CONSERVATION.

FUNDING FOR IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN WAS PROVIDED BY AGNES HAURY.

[MUSIC] ABOUT 50 MILES ACROSS PUGET SOUND FROM SEATTLE LIES VANCOUVER ISLAND IN CANADA.

WE'LL TRAVEL UP-ISLAND AS LOCALS SAY TO MEET OUR BOAT, A SORT OF ECO-FREIGHTER.

FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN END OF THE ISLAND WE DRIVE NORTHWEST TO CAMPBELL RIVER THROUGH WHAT ONCE WAS UNENDING RAINFOREST.

THE PROVIDENCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA IN CANADA IS NEARLY AS BIG AS THE STATE OF ALASKA.

VANCOUVER ISLAND OFF THE COAST IS BIGGER THAN MANY STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND SMALLER ISLANDS.

GETTING TO THOSE OTHER ISLANDS CAN ALSO BE TRICKY AND THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE ONLY PLACE TO GET TO THE MAINLAND IS FROM ONE OF THOSE ISLANDS.

JUST A FEW FEET FROM THE HIGHWAY IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING TRACKS OF TEMPERATE RAINFOREST LEFT IN SOUTHERN PART OF VANCOUVER ISLAND.

THE TWO PRINCIPLE TREES IN THIS FOREST ARE THE RED CEDAR WHICH IS OVER 500 YEARS OLD AND THE DOUGLAS FIR WHICH WILL GET UP TO 700 OR 800 YEARS OLD.

NOW THESE TREES, PARTICULARLY THE RED CEDAR, WERE OF EXTRAORDINARY VALUE TO NATIVE PEOPLES FOR A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PRODUCTS BUT THEY'RE EVEN MORE VALUABLE NOW FOR COMMERCIAL LUMBER AND THANK HEAVENS THEY'RE PRESERVED, PROTECTED HERE IN THIS PARK.

IT'S HARD TO ESTIMATE THE DIAMETER OF THIS TREE BUT LOOK, MY TIP TO TIP FINGER SPAN IS 72 INCHES OR SIX FEET SO IF WE TAKE A BUNCH OF YETMANS, THERE'S TWO, FOUR, SIX; CIRCUMFERENCE, DIVIDE BY PI, IT'S OVER TEN FEET IN DIAMETER AND IT IS IMMENSELY TALL.

ANOTHER COMMON TREE IN THE RAINFOREST HERE IS THE MAPLE.

THE MAPLE LEAF IS A SYMBOL OF CANADA.

MAPLES ARE EVERYWHERE BUT HERE IN THE RAINFOREST THE LEAVES GET VERY, VERY BIG AND WHEN THEY DROP THEIR LEAVES IN THE FALL, THEN YOU GET THE FULL GLORY OF THE EVERGREEN TREES, THEN IN SPRING THEY LEAF OUT AND THEY BRING THEIR OWN COLOR.

IT'S A GREAT ADDITION.

IT'S A DRIVE OF ABOUT 150 MILES TO MENSES BAY WHERE WE HOPE TO MEET OUR ECO-FREIGHTER.

THE AURORA EXPLORER IS NOT YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL CRUISE SHIP.

IT'S A BIG, HEAVY SHIP LOADED WITH EQUIPMENT FOR DELIVERY.

THEY TELL ME THAT WHEN IT ACTUALLY GETS TO WORK IT CAN MOVE RIGHT UP ON TO DRY LAND.

SO WHAT I DON'T DETECT IS THE BEAUTY OF A CRUISE SHIP BUT THIS THING IS SOLID.

SINCE THERE ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY GOOD STORMS HERE I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO THEY TELL ME THAT MY STATEROOM IS ON THE SECOND STORY.

THIS HAS THE FEEL OF NEW PAINT AND THIS IS THE ENTRY.

WELL, WE SAIL FROM CAMPBELL RIVER.

GENERALLY OUR SCHEDULED FREIGHT SAILINGS TAKE US ANYWHERE FROM THE MOUTH OF JERVIS INLET ALL THE WAY UP THE MAINLAND COAST TO THE BROUGHTON ARCHIPELAGO, HUNDREDS OF ISLANDS.

WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1979 AND IT BEGAN AS AN INDUSTRIAL EFFORT, SERVICE TO REMOTE SITES FOR LOGGING CAMPS, FISHING LODGES, AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION SITES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING THE WORKING COAST.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO GET OUT, UNLESS THEY HAD THEIR OWN BOAT OR THEIR OWN AIRPLANE, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT TO SOME OF THESE AREAS AND SHOW IT TO THEM AND WE KNEW THAT WE'D HAVE SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL AND INTERESTING IF WE WERE ABLE TO COMBINE IT.

A LOT OF THE PASSENGERS THAT SAIL WITH US ARE SURPRISED TO SEE THE ACTIVITY ON THE COAST.

THEY'RE SURPRISED WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL WILDERNESS AREA AND THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE APPEARS A MILLION DOLLAR HOME THAT SOMEBODY SET UP AND THAT'S THEIR SUMMER PLACE OR THEY'RE EVEN MORE SURPRISED WHEN WE GO TO A VERY REMOTE AREA AND THERE'S A LOGGING CAMP THAT'S ACTIVE AND HAS A COUPLE OF DOZEN MEN LIVING AND STAYING THERE, CREW BOATS AND AIRPLANES COMING AND GOING AND IT ALL SUPPLIES INCOME FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE ON THE COAST.

THE CAPTAIN IS RON STEVENSON AND THE PASSENGERS NUMBER ONLY ELEVEN, FEW ENOUGH THAT RON GIVES US PERSONAL BRIEFINGS ABOUT OUR ITINERARY.

UNLESS YOU THINK WE'RE ON A HONEYMOON CRUISE ON THE AURORA EXPLORER, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HAULING DOWN HERE.

THERE ARE PICKUP TRUCKS.

THERE IS A LARGE CONTAINER WHICH SOMEONE SAID HAS FURNITURE IN IT.

THERE ARE LARGE DRUMS OF FUEL.

AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER MYSTERIOUS OBJECTS THAT ONLY LATER WILL BECOME APPARENT.

WELL, WE MOVE EVERYTHING FROM HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO GROCERIES.

WE MOVE DANGEROUS CARGO, WE MOVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUEL, WE MOVE A LOT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT BACK AND FORTH AND WE MOVE A LOT OF THE SUPPLIES THAT THE FOREST INDUSTRY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEED TO SURVIVE OUT HERE.

ON ANY GIVEN SAILING WE'LL HAVE HEAVY CHAINS AND WIRES FOR THE LOG BOOMS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH, WE'LL HAVE EXCAVATORS THAT ARE USED FOR BUILDINGS ROADS RIGHT DOWN TO CASES OF EGGS FOR SOME OF THE COASTAL RESTAURANTS AND THE PRIVATE FACILITIES THAT ARE UP THE COAST.

IT TAKES A COUPLE OF BIG ENGINES AND A COUPLE OF BIG PROPS TO MOVE THIS MULTI-THOUSAND TON BOAT.

WE'RE ONLY DOING BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT KNOTS, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD SPEED AND IT WILL GET US WHERE WE'RE GOING.

SO THE ENGINE ROOM IS THE GUTS OF THIS OPERATION.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MAIN ENGINES AND WE'VE GOT TWO GENERATORS, THREE DIFFERENT PUMPS, AIR COMPRESSORS, ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL TO RUN THE ENTIRE SHIP.

THOSE ENGINES POWER A CANADA-BUILT BOAT THAT'S BEEN AROUND.

IT'S 135 FEET LONG, 35 FEET WIDE, 305 GROSS TONS WITH A THREE STORY CABIN AND A BIG DECK.

IF THERE'S ANY ONE PRODUCT THAT BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA IS KNOWN FOR IT'S LUMBER.

IT'S NOT QUITE THE INDUSTRY IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO BUT THERE ARE LOGS EVERYWHERE AND WATER IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET THEM TO MOVE THEM, IT'S CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE SEE JAMBS OF LOGS BY THE MILLIONS.

GETTING READY TO GO TO THE SAW MILL, THE LUMBER THAT GOES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND EVEN SOME OF IT HERE IN CANADA.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PREFABRICATED BRIDGE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO UNLOAD HERE USING A LOG MOVER PLUS A FORKLIFT TO GET IT UP AN IMPOSSIBLY STEEP HILL.

THE LUMBER COUNTRY HERE IS VERY TOPOGRAPHICALLY ROUGH AND THERE ARE SMALL CANYONS WITH STREAMS IN THEM.

SOME OF THOSE STREAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO SALMON OR TROUT HABITAT SO THEY HAVE TO CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE AND THE BRIDGE HAS TO BE BROUGHT IN.

WHEN THEY ARE DONE, THEY WILL COLLECT THE BRIDGE AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AS CAPTAIN, WHAT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THE DELIVERY OF THIS EQUIPMENT?

WELL, MY RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT THE FREIGHT GETS OFF SAFE AND THAT MY CREW IS SAFE.

AT THE MOMENT I'M JUST AT THE WHEEL HOLDING THE VESSEL ON THE BEACH.

SO TYPICALLY HOW LONG WILL THEY STAY IN ONE PLACE HERE WITH THIS KIND OF OPERATION?

WELL, THIS PARTICULAR SITE, THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR GOING ON THREE YEARS NOW.

THAT'S QUITE A LONG TIME TO BE IN ONE SPOT.

BUT THE MARKET'S GOOD RIGHT NOW SO THEY JUST KEEP ON LOGGING.

THE BIG COMPANIES ARE, THEY'RE NOT DOING ANY LOGGING.

THEY HAVE THE TFLS, TREE FOREST LICENSES, BUT CONTRACTORS ARE COMING IN AND DOING THE LOGGING.

THERE WILL BE A ROAD BUILDER COME IN TO BUILD THE ROAD.

THERE MAY BE A SEPARATE FALLING CONTRACTOR COMES IN TO FALL THE TREES.

YOU HAVE A HAULING CONTRACTOR WITH THE LOGGING TRUCKS.

THAT MANY DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS?

YEAH, YEAH.

SO THE BRIDGE IS SPECTACULAR BUT THE PORT-A-POTTY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

YEAH.

WELL, IT'S ALL ABOUT KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT IN AS BEST SHAPE AS WE CAN.

SO THE DELIVERY HERE IS COMPLETE.

THEY MAY NOT RETURN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR A COUPLE OF MONTHS OR THEY MAY HAVE TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE NEEDS OF THE LUMBERING OPERATION HERE.

MY GUESS IS THAT THIS INLET WHICH IS CALLED BUTTE INLET WAS PROBABLY ORIGINALLY A FAULT, A CRACK IN THE EARTH'S SURFACE, AND THE GLACIER FOLLOWED THAT CRACK AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT 5,000 FEET OF GLACIER AND ALL THAT WEIGHT MOVING DOWN, IT JUST CARVED OUT THIS VALLEY AND ROUNDED ALL THE SHARP CORNERS OUT.

THIS MORNING DURING ONE OF THE LOADINGS THEY GOT A BUNCH OF MUD ON THE RAMP SO OUR PILOT DECIDED TO CLEAN THAT OFF.

THIS IS RAMP WASHING BC STYLE.

SO THIS IS THE MAJOR FUEL SUPPLY.

WHEN THEY SEE THE BOAT COMING THEY KNOW THEY GET FUEL FOR ANOTHER FEW DAYS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A HOSE THAT'S OVER 100 YARDS LONG BEFORE.

YOU HAVE THE FEELING HERE THAT YOU'RE IN A 23RD CENTURY OPERATION ON ANOTHER PLANET.

MOST OF THE DELIVERIES THAT THE AURORA EXPLORER MAKES ARE CONNECTED WITH LUMBER AND LUMBER IS THE INDUSTRY THAT DRIVES THE ECONOMY OF THIS PART OF THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

THE AURORA EXPLORER HAS DONE AN UNUSUAL THING, COMBINED ECO-TOURISM WITH INDUSTRIAL WORK SO WE HAVE A SHIP THAT IS CONSTANTLY MAKING DELIVERIES AND PICKING THINGS UP AND PEOPLE WHO GET TO WATCH IT AND ENJOY THIS PART OF THE WILD COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

SOME OF THIS MACHINERY LOOKS LIKE IT'S OUT OF STAR WARS .

IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN BEFORE.

YEARS AGO YOU USED TO HAVE DONKEY PUNCHERS, GUYS THAT LEARNED OUT TO OPERATE THE MACHINES ON THE JOB.

EVERYTHING WAS FRICTION RELATED OR AIR RELATED AND THE MACHINES WERE LARGE AND REALLY, REALLY HARD TO RUN.

NOW THINGS HAVE GOTTEN HIGHLY MECHANIZED AND HIGHLY TECHNICAL IN THE FOREST INDUSTRY.

THE COMPLEXITY OF THE OPERATION HERE IS FASCINATING.

THE LOGS ARRIVE, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN MACHINED.

THEY ARE OFTEN FELLED BY AUTOMATIC TREE FELLING MACHINES AND THEY ARE CUT UP BEFORE THEY ARRIVE DOWN THE HILL HERE.

THESE FELLOWS WITH THE CHAIN SAW ARE JUST SMOOTHING OFF THE EDGES.

THEY ARE FINISHING THEM SO THAT THEY CAN LOAD AS MANY AS POSSIBLE IN THESE LOG GRAPPLERS AND THEY WILL THEN BE BOUND IN CABLES AND RELEASED AND ROLL DOWN INTO THE OCEAN.

THEY'RE ALREADY SORTED BY SIZE.

THEY WILL BE PUT INTO HUGE GANGS AND TOW IT TO VANCOUVER WHICH IS ABOUT A TWO DAY TUGBOAT RIDE AWAY FROM HERE.

THE LOG ISN'T JUST A LOG.

THESE ARE BALSAM WHICH IS A VERY HIGH-VALUED LUMBER AND THESE WILL GO TO JAPAN.

THIS LOG IS WORTH HERE ABOUT $900.

BY THE TIME IT GETS TO JAPAN AND IS LUMBERED IT'S PROBABLY WORTH TEN TIMES THAT MUCH.

THE CAPTAIN SAYS THIS IS A GROCERY DELIVERY.

THIS IS A FLOATING HOTEL/WAREHOUSE/STORE AND THEY GET THEIR PROVISIONS FROM THE AURORA EXPLORER.

SO EACH TWO WEEKS THEY BRING IN A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF GROCERIES INCLUDING ICE CREAM, FRESH MEAT AND FRESH VEGETABLES.

THERE'S ENOUGH WINDOWS IN THERE THAT TELLS ME THERE'S A LOT OF LUMBERMEN STAYING IN THIS PLACE.

OH, IT COULD BE 50 PEOPLE.

REALLY?

YEAH.

SO THEY COME HERE TO EAT AND SLEEP AND THEN GO BACK OUT TO WORK.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YEAH, THEY'LL BE ON SHIFT AND THEIR SHIFT COULD BE SEVEN DAYS ON, SEVEN DAYS OFF OR IT COULD BE TEN DAYS ON, FOUR DAYS OFF, WHATEVER THE COMPANY DECIDES.

AND THE CONTRACTORS PROVIDE FOOD AND LODGING.

YEAH, IT'S ALL CONTRACTORS.

SO YOU HAVE MAYBE FOUR CONTRACTORS HERE.

WE CAN SEE SOME OF MY SHIPMATES UP HERE.

THEY FIND THIS AS INTERESTING AS I DO.

THEY HAVE NOT, MOST OF THEM BEEN TO THIS PART OF CANADA BEFORE, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE ALL CANADIANS SO IT'S AS NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AS IT IS FOR ME.

THIS IS INDUSTRIAL, THAT'S TOURISTIC UP THERE.

THE QUESTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORK THAT WE SERVICE AND THE SORT OF ECO-FRIENDLY TOURISM THAT WE APPLY TO IT AS WELL, BOTH SIDES ARE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE OTHER.

MANAGING THE FOREST IS BETTER THAN LEAVING IT STAGNANT IN MANY CASES.

THERE ARE HUGE TRACKS OF LAND IN COASTAL BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT ARE NOW DESIGNATED TO STAY THE WAY THEY ARE IN THEIR PRISTINE FASHION AND THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE'VE HARVESTED THE TIMBER FOR SO LONG THAT IT'S A MORE SUITABLE CHOICE TO CONTINUE HARVESTING IT.

THERE ARE STILL CONFLICTS, IT EXISTS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE FOREST INDUSTRY HAS A DESIRE TO OVERCOME THE CONFLICT AND TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE LIGHT SIDE INSTEAD OF THE DARK SIDE.

THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL OPERATION AND WE'VE GOT CABLE DOWN HERE; WE'VE GOT CABLES, WE'VE GOT PALLETS, FORKLIFTS, WE'VE GOT A RAMP, WE'VE GOT A BOOM, A CRANE, ALL THAT STUFF.

THERE'S LOTS GOING ON.

YEAH.

IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION.

RUN-OF-THE-MILL CRUISE SHIPS DON'T CARRY TRUCKS THAT HAVE DETONATORS IN THEM AND HAVE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE SIGNS ON THE SIDE AND HUGE PALLETS, SACKS FULL OF EXPLOSIVES.

THIS IS AUSTENITE 15, IT'S AN EXPLOSIVE.

THIS IS AUSTENITE WR IS ANOTHER KIND OF EXPLOSIVE.

THIS COULD GO UP IN SMITHEREENS BUT IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE FUN.

THIS EQUIPMENT BRINGS BACK MY LUST FOR ADVENTURE AND I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE CREW AROUND SO THIS IS AN AVAILABLE FORKLIFT.

IT TAKES ME BACK TO MY YOUTH.

RON, THIS IS DAVE DOWN HERE ON THE DECK JUST CHECKING IN TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL.

EVERYTHING IS FINE AND DANDY.

OUR NEXT STOP IS BLIND CHANNEL RESORT FOR A RECREATION STOP, A CHANCE TO GO FOR A WALK IN THE FOREST.

IN THE UNITED STATES WE TAKE THAT TO MEAN AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT CANADIANS DO ABOUT THAT.

WE JUST WALK ASHORE.

WE DON'T ASSAULT ANYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, I SEE.

WE JUST GO ASHORE.

YOU'RE MUCH MORE GENTLE PEOPLE THAN THESE BRUTISH AMERICANS, RIGHT?

SO LET'S GO DOWN.

EVERY FEW HOURS EVERY THIRD DAY THEY STOP TO LET PASSENGERS OFF.

IT'S NICE ON THESE RAMPS THEY HAVE PLACES TO KEEP YOU FROM SLIDING CAUSE IT CAN GET VERY WET HERE BUT WE ARE TOLD WE'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO GO WALK THROUGH THE FOREST WHICH IS ABOUT TIME.

SO FELIPE TELLS ME THAT THIS THEY "THE SNAG" AND IT'S HERE BECAUSE NOBODY COULD CUT IT DOWN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

WELL, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CEDAR ROTS IN THE CENTER.

THAT COMPROMISES THE VALUE OF THE LUMBER, THEN.

YEAH, YEAH.

BUT VERY OFTEN THE TOP PART COULD STILL BE SOLID WOOD.

MY GOODNESS.

EVEN RIGHT NOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE VERY, VERY VALUABLE CEDAR ON TOP.

AND YOU SAY THAT I CAN GO INSIDE.

YOU CAN WALK RIGHT IN.

I'LL FOLLOW YOU.

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY BEARS.

NOW YOU TOLD ME THERE'S A LIVE TREE THAT'S EVEN BIGGER THAN THIS.

YEP, IT'S NOT FAR FROM HERE.

IT'S MUCH BIGGER.

IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 800 YEARS OLD.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME GAUGING HOW TALL THAT TREE IS CAUSE I CAN BARELY SEE THE TOP BUT I TALKED WITH FELIPE.

HE SAYS THAT PROBABLY 80 METERS IS A GOOD FIGURE.

THAT'S ROUGHLY 250 FEET.

THAT'S A LOT OF TREE.

WE NEED EVERYBODY BACK BY QUARTER PAST.

I COULD MAYBE STRETCH IT OUT TO 12:30 BUT WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO GET GOING BY 12:30 AT THE LATEST.

OKAY.

WE'RE RIGHT ON OUR WAY.

WE'LL BE THERE IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

OKAY, THANKS.

AND NOW I'M BEING SUMMONED BACK TO THE BOAT BY THE PILOT WHO IS ALSO MY GUIDE.

WHEN FELIPE SAYS GET BACK TO THE BOAT, I GET BACK TO THE BOAT.

THE FREIGHT DICTATES WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO AND THEN THE TIDES DICTATE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ORDERS WILL COME INTO THE OFFICE.

OCCASIONALLY WHEN WE'RE OUT AT SEA THEY'LL CALL US UP AND THERE WILL BE NEW FREIGHT THAT COMES UP, A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WILL NEED TO BE MOVED.

THE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT REFER TO THIS AREA AS "BILLIONAIRES' PARADISE".

APPARENTLY A LOT OF THE ISLANDS, THE SMALLER ISLANDS, ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.

IT'S A PLACE FOR THE VERY, VERY RICH.

WE WERE HAVING A PRETTY SMOOTH PASSAGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HIT A NARROWS AND THERE IS A COMPLEX OF CURRENTS IN HERE.

SOME OF THEM ARE VERY STRONG, UPWELLINGS AND EVEN SOME SMALL WHIRLPOOLS.

IT'S VERY RICH IN SEA LIFE WITH THE STRONG CURRENT SO AS A RESULT NOT ONLY LOTS OF FISH BUT YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF EAGLES AND LOTS OF SEA BIRDS.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS SALMON FISHING THAT WAS DRAWING PEOPLE TO THIS AREA AND I GUESS ENOUGH PEOPLE COMING UP HERE LONG ENOUGH, JUST THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE HAS DRAWN PEOPLE IN.

AT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE GEORGIA BASIN WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BUILT; PRIVATE HOMES, SUMMER HOMES.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT HERE NOW.

THEY'RE A SHORT BOAT RIDE TO SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY'RE A SHORT CAR RIDE TO A MAJOR CENTER.

MANY OF US DON'T GET TO SEE GLACIERS BECAUSE SO MANY IN THE WORLD ARE RETREATING.

THIS IS A REAL ONE.

12,000 YEARS AGO THE GLACIER HERE WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE BETWEEN ONE AND TWO MILES THICK.

NOW IT HAS RETREATED TIL IT'S JUST A SMALL PORTION OF ITS FORMER SELF BUT IT'S A REAL GLACIER.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANYTHING MORE SPECTACULAR THAN GOBS OF FRESH WATER PUNCHING INTO THE SALT WATER IN THE INLET.

FOR SURE THIS IS SNOW MELT IN THIS WATERFALL.

IT MAY ALSO BE GLACIAL MELT.

WE CAN SEE THE SNOW BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE WATER AND SEE HOW CLOUDY IT IS, THAT INDICATES GLACIAL MELT FROM THE DISSOLVED ROCK THAT IS BROUGHT DOWN BY THE GLACIER.

THE REMOVAL OF MOST OBJECTS IS NO PROBLEM BUT THEY'RE ABOUT TO REMOVE SOMETHING REALLY BIG AND UNWIELDY FROM THE BOAT AND IT COULD SWING AROUND AND DO A LOT OF DAMAGE.

IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S SOMETHING OUT OF STAR WARS BUT IT ACTUALLY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LOGGING ON HILLSIDES.

THOSE CABLES GET STRUNG UP TO BIG LOGS AND PULLS THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, STRINGS IT OUT, AND WITH THIS TRACK IT CAN GO ALMOST ANYWHERE.

THIS IS A TRADE.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOAD THIS BIG TRUCK WITH ANOTHER KIND OF CABLE AND CRANE ON IT BACK ONTO THE BOAT IN PLACE OF THE ONE THAT WAS TAKEN OFF.

I'M GETTING OUT OF THE WAY.

THIS IS A DRILLING MACHINE.

IN ORDER TO GET TO THE TIMBER THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF ROADS AND THAT INVOLVES DRILLING THROUGH ROCK, FILLING THEM WITH EXPLOSIVE POWDER AND BLOWING IT UP SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET THEIR EQUIPMENT UP TO THE SITE.

IT'S FUN AND GAMES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS NEXT PIECE OF MACHINERY IS COMING ON.

ALONG WITH THE OTHER NEW PIECE IT'S GOING TO TAKE UP ALL THE SPACE THAT THE CRANE OCCUPIED.

I WAS HOPING WITH THE EMPTY DECK WE COULD HAVE SOME DANCING GOING ON TOMORROW NIGHT BUT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FILLED UP WITH STUFF THAT I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

THE FOREST TREES THAT DON'T GO TO MAKE LUMBER GO TO MAKE PULP, ESPECIALLY THE HEMLOCK TREE.

COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF THEM ARE GROUND INTO VERY FINE CHIPS AND BROUGHT DOWN HERE TO POWELL RIVER AND PROCESSED IN THIS PULP MILL TO MAKE PAPER.

THE CANADIAN PULP INDUSTRY USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST FLOURISHING IN THE WORLD BUT THE COSTS OF PRODUCTION ARE NOW SO GREAT THAT THEY CAN'T COMPETE WITH OTHER PLACES IN TEMPERATE CLIMATES WHERE THE TREES GROW MUCH FASTER.

SO IT'S A DYING INDUSTRY BUT HERE IT SEEMS TO BE DOING PRETTY WELL.

THE TOWN OF POWELL RIVER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA IS A PULP MILL TOWN BUT THEY FOUND THAT THE CHEAPEST WAY TO BUILD A BREAK WATER TO PROTECT THE INNER HARBOR WAS TO TAKE OLD LIBERTY SHIPS.

THEY'RE MADE OUT OF CONCRETE AND REINFORCING STEEL.

THEY WERE USED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AS SUPPLY SHIPS DURING WORLD WAR II AND THEY MAKE A FANTASTIC AND CHEAP SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE WAVES IN POWELL RIVER.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S MORE A MONUMENT TO THE HEROES OF WORLD WAR II OR TO THE ENGINEERS WHO CAME UP WITH AN INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION TO A SEA PROBLEM.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S STRANGE.

HERE'S THE PLANE.

WELL, THERE'S GUY.

HOW YOU DOING GUY?

GOOD.

WILL THIS BE A SAFE RIDE?

ABSOLUTELY.

TRAVELING AROUND IN A BOAT YOU DON'T GET AN ACCURATE VIEW OF WHAT THE COUNTRY REALLY LOOKS LIKE AND TO GET THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP HIGH, YOU'VE GOT TO GO UP IN A PLANE.

THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA HAS THOUSANDS OF MILES OF CHANNELS AND COASTLINE.

YOU MIGHT GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT'S ALL THERE IS BUT VERY SLOWLY YOU CAN SEE THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND NOW THINGS CHANGE AND YOU BEGIN TO SEE WHAT IMMENSE AND ROUGH COUNTRY THIS IS.

I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH CLEAR CUTTING WENT ON HERE BUT PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THE WORST PART OF IT WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE UP ABOUT 3,000 AND WE BEGIN TO SEE THE HIGHER PEAKS.

THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THIS PART OF BRITISH COLUMBIA IS THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE WHOLE STATE.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER 13,000 FEET BUT IT'S WAY ABOVE US.

AND NOW YOU BEGIN TO SEE HOW VAST THIS PROVINCE IS.

WE'RE JUST SEEING ONE TINY LITTLE PORTION OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD TAKE THREE LIFETIMES TO WALK THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

WE'RE GETTING HIGH ENOUGH TO WHERE WE CAN SEE GLACIERS.

THIS USED TO BE COVERED BY A GLACIER MORE THAN A MILE THICK BUT HERE LIKE 10,000 YEARS AGO IT WAS MOSTLY MOUNTAIN AND THE MOUNTAINS HAVE ACTUALLY RISEN A FEW HUNDRED FEET.

NOW THERE'S A GLACIER, THERE IS A GLACIER.

IT HAS A REDDISH TINGE.

THE LOCAL PEOPLE WARNED ME ABOUT THAT AND THEY SAID IT'S ACTUALLY AN ALGAE.

AND NOW WE CAN SEE HOW VAST THIS COUNTRY IS.

IT'S BROKEN CRAGS, CRAGS THAT HAVE BEEN SMOOTHED OFF BY GLACIERS AND THERE WE GO OVER BUTTE INLET.

IT MUST BE 40 MILES LONG.

THE PORTION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WE SEE FROM THE BOAT IS TINY INDEED BUT THE COMBINATION OF THE WORKING COAST AND ECO-TOURISM GIVES A GLIMPSE OF A FUTURE THAT RECONCILES INDUSTRY AND CONSERVATION.

MUCH OF THE VAST INTERIOR OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL IS SEMI-DESERT.

ONE MOUNTAIN RANGE RISES STEEPLY FROM THE PLAINS.

IT HAS CREATED ITS OWN ECOSYSTEM, THE CHAPADA DIAMANTINA, THE DIAMOND RANGE.

JOIN US NEXT TIME IN THE AMERICAS WITH ME, DAVID YETMAN.

IT SEEMS ODD TO SEE THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD OUT HERE ON PATROL BUT THESE WATERS ARE NAVIGATED BY MANY, MANY HUNDREDS OF SHIPS, SOME OF THEM VERY LARGE, AND IT'S THE COAST GUARD'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LEGAL AND THAT THEY ARE SAFE.

FUNDING FOR IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN WAS PROVIDED BY AGNES HAURY.

COPIES OF THIS AND OTHER EPISODES OF IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SOUTHWEST CENTER.

TO ORDER CALL 1-800-937-8632.

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