Join us March 11, 2026

The hidden impacts of clear-cut logging in our watershed - A film presentation and discussion

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

7:00 - 9:15 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM)

Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College

Entry by donation

Trouble in the Headwaters A film by Daniel J. Pearce

This eye-opening film exposes the links between industrial clear-cutting and the growing risk of flooding, landslides, and drought across British Columbia.

Also, six local experts will speak about clear-cutting in the Comox Valley, including its impact on freshwater, birds, ecosystems, forestry, and fisheries.

Q&A session to follow.

Call to Action: Prince of Wales Range near Sayward

SOFT-CV recently received this note and photos from a forest advocate (slightly edited here). Please get in touch with us if you're interested in working on this worthwhile and nearby initiative!!

I am relatively new to Campbell River, and as I have explored the backcountry more, I have seen firsthand how dire the situation around old-growth logging here is. I am highly motivated to help in any way that I can, but of course this isn't an easy task for an individual to take on, so I thought I would reach out to your group about an initiative that I have in mind. The old growth on the mid-north island is being ravaged from all sides - I understand that it is very difficult to prioritize certain areas over others for protection, so most local old-growth protection groups are tackling "the big picture" while our last remaining ancient trees continue to fall. I would like to bring the Prince of Wales range to your attention. This range is located just east of Sayward. I believe this area deserves special attention and priority for the following reasons:

• They are targeting high-elevation old-growth in the Prince of Wales range specifically. Forests at this elevation are slow growing and there is a very strong argument to be made that they are irreplaceable. These forests also contain some of the oldest and biggest remaining yellow cedars in the province, with an estimated age of 1500-2000 years.

  
  

• As we saw with the loss of the Black Creek yellow cedar near Gold River, logging companies are not to be trusted to follow the big tree protection regulations.

  
  

• The Prince of Wales range is of extremely high recreational value. A hidden gem of the island, it offers some of the most spectacular views available from summits on the island, along with a range of hikes of various difficulty - perfect for beginners and mountaineering experts alike. There is a strong argument that cutblocks will destroy the recreational value - not just because this will ruin the views, but also because the purpose of a hike - a challenge - is defeated when a road is cut nearly all the way to the summit.

  
  

• The extent that they are destroying this range is sure to garner worldwide attention, if the information is shared properly. I am not aware of any other mountain range on the island (or frankly, the world) that is currently being targeted so heavily. This makes it a good candidate for a targeted campaign to protect it.

  
  

• The famous Kusam Klimb race utilizes this range. Those involved with the race care deeply for it, including those living in Sayward. Local support can go a long way here, which is fairly rare in the area. I am not sure about First Nation support, though - the logging company that is currently striking is half-owned by an indigenous logging company.

  
  

• The proximity to a city (Campbell River) further adds value to this range. As the city grows, the residents will need access to backcountry activities (a large draw of the area). There is very, very little protected area here and this is a great candidate for a new protected recreational area.

  
  

This person shared these photos with us, and says: I encourage viewing the extent of the cutblocks on Google Earth for some perspective, keeping in mind this data is outdated and the cuts are more severe than shown. Almost all of the remaining old growth that you see is approved or proposed to be logged. There is falling boundary tape on the very little remaining old growth beneath High Rigger, a road is cut into the base of Mount Roberts, the northern slope of Mount Kitchener has several proposed cutblocks in its very little remaining old growth (which also happens to be a priority deferral area), and I have heard that a road is being cut in beneath Big Tree Peak as well. There is also harvest occurring around H'Kusam Mountain, but I do not have this data - I assume it is under a woodlot license because it is not available on iMapBC. I fear they are also targeting what little old growth remains over there too. It is nothing short of a shocking, all-out attack on the Prince of Wales range.

My proposal is that all remaining old growth in this range must be protected immediately. I have not been involved in conservation before, so I am not entirely sure where to begin.

• I plan to personally comb the range as much as I can for rare plants, rare forest types, marbled murrelet, and particularly large trees in hopes this might garner some form of protection.

• We may wish to work with organizations that will help campaign to find donors to purchase the remaining old growth in this range.

• We could propose to the province that this area is worthy of becoming a provincial park or even just an OGMA.

I am willing to pull out all the stops that are reasonable, but I require guidance and support as I have never done anything like this before. I will say that I will fight for this range as much as I can, regardless of whether it feels futile or not. I hope your team may be able to join me and assist me in any way that you can - anything would be apprecia

Murrelet Mountain TSITIKA - TA 1375

This 34-hectare section of ancient and old-growth forest on Tsitika Mountain (TA 1375) on Ma’amtagila traditional homelands, is still scheduled to be logged.

To better understand the issue, read this excellent story in the Watershed Sentinel from November 2025.

Vancouver Island Forest Focus, a small but vocal group, have been advocating for the protection of this area of old growth for some time nad have launched a court case to defer logging in this area until the Ma’amtagila’s rights and title court case is decided upon. The Ma'amtagila people have stewarded this land for thousands of generations and they intend to make sure no more ancient trees are cut.

If logging proceeds, VIFF says, rare rubbing beaches in Robson Bight used by northern resident orca whales are at risk due to run-off, erosion, and landslides that will affect the Tsitika River. Logging will also threaten 400 plant and animal old-growth forest dependent species. Marbled murrelets, protected under the International Migratory Birds Act, are actively nesting and breeding in this forest.

VIFF recently received the following unsigned response from BCTS (many months after VIFF wrote to BCTS). Since this was sent in late January, it implies, at least, that the area hasn't yet been logged.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts regarding BC Timber Sales’ proposed timber sale, TA1375, in the Tsitika Landscape Unit. We recognize that many British Columbians care deeply about old growth and forest stewardship. We also appreciate that a number of the questions being raised come from a place of genuine concern for ecological and cultural values.

We have received a high volume of emails about this sale, many of them based on template messages circulating online. With the planning work for TA1375 now complete, we want to provide clear information and ensure the public has access to the facts. To support this, we are releasing a Fact Sheet, which summarizes the assessments that were undertaken and the considerations that guided our planning.

TA1375 has been part of long-standing planning efforts in the Tsitika area. BC Timber Sales has invested significant resources into the sale including engineering, field work, ecological and cultural evaluations, and road and terrain assessments. With this work now complete, the timber sale is ready to move forward for disposition. 

Several common themes have emerged in public correspondence, and we want to address them directly in a clear and respectful way.

Old Growth & Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) Priority DeferralsWhile TA1375 overlaps provincial TAP Priority Deferral polygons, it was not selected for inclusion in the Nanwakolas member Nations’ conservation network under their Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP). Through the IRMP process, BCTS and the Nations identified the areas within the Tsitika Landscape Unit that hold the highest cultural and ecological importance for long-term protection.  TAP priority Old Growth areas were introduced in November of 2021 to secure options for the protection of Old Growth in support of landscape planning initiatives such as the IRMP.  Extensive planning by the Nanwakolas nations has occurred over the last four years. The IRMP reflects the conservation and protection of values important to the Nations while also balancing their forestry and economic aspirations.  Among these values is the protection of Old Growth across a corridor network that incorporates many TAP identified areas.  TA1375 is located outside of those areas.

Commitment to Protecting Old Growth We understand the perception that any harvest in a TAP polygon may appear to conflict with high-level provincial messaging. The IRMP provides the more detailed, locally informed guidance specific to this landscape. The IRMP process ensures that decisions reflect Indigenous values, ecological priorities, biodiversity priorities and long-term sustainability at the scale where they matter most.

Ecological Considerations Professional hydrology, wildlife, terrain, and ecological assessments have been completed. This includes review of marbled murrelet habitat, watershed stability, cultural cedar, and species such as Old-growth Specklebelly Lichen. Mitigation measures have been incorporated, and the block was re-designed to avoid the areas identified as highest priority for protection.

Robson Bight & Watershed Concerns Studies indicate that sediment found at the Robson Bight rubbing beaches comes largely from coastal drift, not from activity in the Tsitika watershed. Current levels of harvested and naturally disturbed forest in the Tsitika remain low and below the levels associated with increased sediment-related risk.

Economic Context On the coast, numerous mill curtailments are in effect impacting employment and the economic well-being of forest dependent communities.  Fiber supply on the coast has dwindled to half the allowable annual cut.  The gap between the historical harvest of approximately 10 million cubic meters and the six million cubic meters projected is likely to persist.  BCTS plays an important role providing a source of logs into the market to bolster domestic fiber supply. 

Advancing TA1375 supports fiber flow to small local mills at a time when they are facing challenging market conditions and supports local employment, which is an objective of the BCTS mandate. 

Our intent in providing this information is to clearly address the most common questions and concerns raised about TA1375. The Fact Sheet summarizes the completed assessments and the considerations that informed the planning for this timber sale.

TA1375 Response Fact Sheet.pdf

Download PDF • 176KB

Click here to support VIFF's efforts to protect TA 1375