Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS) was established as a non-profit society in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada in 1979. We are a grassroots, community-based environment organization.
Our mission is to protect the ancient temperate rainforest and wild ocean of Clayoquot Sound.
We have two overarching goals, one biological, the other cultural. One goal is to preserve natural biological diversity and ecosystem dynamics, concentrating on Clayoquot Sound's ocean and forest. The other goal is to stimulate creation of a conservation-based society, with a corresponding conservation-based economy. Our organization is part of a global conservation movement calling for a shift away from unsustainable practices that damage the health of earth's ecosystems.
FOCS are strongly opposed to logging of old growth temperate rainforests in Clayoquot Sound and globally. Indeed, we oppose logging of any of earth's remaining ancient or endangered forests. We oppose the export of raw (unprocessed) logs and support maximum value-added processing. We support small-scale, community-based eco-forestry in second growth forests. We promote reduction of wood and paper consumption, and support use of ecologically sustainable and tree-free alternatives to wood and wood-fiber products.
We believe that open net-cage salmon farms in the ocean pose unacceptable risks to the marine environment and to wild salmon. We oppose further expansion of salmon and other fish farms in Clayoquot Sound and BC, and support converting existing farms to closed containment systems.
Friends of Clayoquot Sound run two campaigns, forest and aquaculture. Our forest campaign focuses on achieving protection for Clayoquot Sound's remaining intact, completely unlogged, ancient temperate rainforest valleys. Our aquaculture campaign advocates removal of open net-cage salmon farms from the ocean waters of Clayoquot Sound and BC and pressures for a change to closed containment tanks with waste treatment. We work on fish farm issues with the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR), of which we're a member group.
In our campaigns, we use various tactics -- public education, markets education, research, monitoring, negotiations and peaceful direct action. Markets work is a particularly effective tool. We inform individual and corporate consumers about the environmentally harmful effects of their purchasing choices and work to shift their purchasing to "greener" alternatives.
Although we are a small local group, focused mainly on protecting Clayoquot Sound, our work has a wider impact. FOCS is a key group responsible for raising the profile of temperate rainforests from unknown to globally recognized, following the mass logging protests in Clayoquot Sound in 1993 which received worldwide attention. Through ongoing collaboration with other groups, particularly in exerting markets pressure, we contribute to protecting ancient forests around the world and to reforming salmon farming in coastal BC.
Friends of Clayoquot Sound
PO Box 489, 331 Neill St., Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
Tel: 250-725-4218 Fax: 250-725-2527
Email: info@focs.ca
Photo by Adrian Dorst
The health of the global environment depends on intact ecosystems. It is our responsibility to act as peaceful
and courageous advocates for marine and terrestrial life in Clayoquot Sound.
Join us!
Donate now and become a member!
Learn more about fish farming in Clayoquot Sound
Learn more about industrial logging in Clayoquot Sound