The BC government has announced that they are considering a conservancy for untouched forest areas near Clayoquot Sound, which was proposed by the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations.
A conservancy in this context would guarantee the protection of the forested area, ensuring that it could not be logged by the forestry industry.
The proposed region that the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations want protected is 77,000 hectares in total.
Currently the area is part of Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 54, which means that technically, it could be logged.
It is the only TFL around Clayoquot Sound.
The area in question is located on the west side of Vancouver Island and the landscape is made up of mountains, valleys, ocean inlets, lakes, rivers, islands and forests.
According to the Province, if this is approved, 60% of the current area of the TFL would be conserved, leaving just 55,000 hectares available for logging.
The BC government is seeking the opinions of all British Columbians on whether or not to grant this conservancy.
“The proposed conservancies would support reconciliation, the conservation of old-growth forests and healthy ecosystems, as well as provide clarity on areas that will continue to be managed for forestry to support timber supply,” the Province wrote in a media release.
“Public input on how the land is being used will inform the implementation of the proposed conservancies in collaboration with the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, within whose territories the proposed conservancies are located.”
They say that the public can share their opinions online until April 10th.
