Jon Degner

Jon is a research scientist for the BC Ministry of Forests, where he studies forest genetics and operates the coastal Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce tree breeding programs. Although his research typically takes him to young and regenerating forests, many field days spent in far-flung stretches of Vancouver Island exposed him to spectacular patches of old-growth forest, tucked away in remote valleys hours away from anything. These little outings into the bush at the end of work sparked a love of big trees, and a draw to the incredible unknown of the rainforest’s rugged hillsides.

Jon has a BSc in Forest Sciences and a PhD from UBC, where he researched the relationship between genetic variation and climate in BC’s interior spruce hybrid zone. Although he was born and raised in Oregon’s Rogue Valley, he has spent most of his adult life in Canada. Jon lives and works in Lake Cowichan, using this area as a jumping off point for his weekend forays into the wilderness.  Visit Pseudotsoguys Instagram account.