Friends of Clayoquot Sound: Logging

Clayoquot Sound's Endangered Forest

Ursus River

In 2003, a study by Global Forest Watch Canada revealed that Clayoquot Sound contains the largest intact forest remaining on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia -- a region that has been devastated by logging for more than 150 years.

What is an Intact Forest?
An intact forest is one that is free from human disturbance (e.g. by logging, mining, etc.) and is considered large enough to sustain viable populations of native species (like wolves and cougars). Clayoquot Sound has long been known to contain one of the most spectacular forests on Vancouver Island, but this research confirms both the uniqueness and the critical importance of Clayoquot's rainforest to the native biodiversity of the entire Island.

Pristine Valleys
The heart of Clayoquot's intact forest is composed of a series of undisturbed, or "pristine", valleys. Many of these valleys are unprotected. Large valleys like the Sydney, Pretty Girl, Ursus and the Upper Bulson stand majestically as they have for thousands of years, and are cradled by smaller but equally important stretches of wilderness like Satchie and Hesquiat Lake Creeks. In the ocean channels lie impressive islands carpeted in old-growth forest, like Flores and Meares Islands. Fishermen regularly report seeing cougars, bears, and deer swimming from shore to shore in search of nourishment. Together, these islands and valleys offer native wildlife on Vancouver Island their best chance to survive and thrive for countless generations to come. Yet logging continually diminishes Clayoquot's intact forest, threatening its capacity to sustain wildlife.

Click on the following to learn more about the Pristine Valleys in Clayoquot's intact old-growth forest:

Contact us!

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