How Should Forests Be Managed on Central Vancouver Island's West Coast?
Official title: West Central Vancouver Island Forest Landscape Plan
BC is developing a new forest management plan for 594,000 hectares on Vancouver Island's west coast. The province worked with three First Nations—Mowachaht/Muchatlaht, Ka:yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h', and Ehattesaht Chinehkint—to create a shared vision. They wanted to hear what local communities value about these forests before deciding how to manage them.
Why This Matters
Live in Gold River, Tahsis, Zeballos, or nearby communities? This plan will shape how forests around you are managed for decades. It affects local jobs in forestry, recreation access, and how the land responds to climate change. Indigenous communities are co-leading this work, which could set a precedent for forest planning across BC.
What Could Change
A new Forest Landscape Plan will set rules for logging, conservation, and land use across this 594,000-hectare area. The plan must balance ecosystem health with economic opportunities like forestry jobs. Management approaches could change to address climate impacts and cumulative disturbance from both natural events and human activity.
Key Issues
- What values do local communities place on forest ecosystems?
- How should forest management balance ecosystem health with economic opportunities?
- How can the plan address climate change and cumulative impacts on the land?
How to Participate
- Review the project boundary map and map with management units to understand the planning area.
- The online survey was open until December 15, 2025. In-person open houses were also held during the engagement period.