What is a ‘private forest’ in B.C.? And how much logging is allowed there?

Written By Great Land Grab 2021

TITLE: What is a ‘private forest’ in B.C.? And how much logging is allowed there?

AUTHOR: Julie Gordon

DATE: February 18, 2025

DESCRIPTION: B.C.’s private forests aren’t subject to the same logging regulations as those on public land — putting old growth, wildlife habitat and significant ecosystems at risk.

EXTRACT: “According to Wu, the most egregious difference between public and private regimes is that the latter have no prescribed harvesting limits. “You can cut as much as you want, as fast as you want,” he explains. 

With no limits to the volume of timber that can be harvested from private forest under the current legislation, Ekers says, “the old growth and the hyper-valuable timber that’s been protected through activism on the west coast of Vancouver Island has generally been liquidated” within privately owned forests.” 

ACCESS: Free online access https://thenarwhal.ca/private-forests-bc-logging-explainer/