LAKE COWICHAN — Authorities on Vancouver Island have confirmed that an area previously occupied by protesters, who set up camp in August to halt old-growth logging, has been cleared. This development allows Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership to resume its logging operations in the Carmanah Valley. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began enforcing a court-ordered injunction on Tuesday, which prohibited any interference with forestry activities. Most of the protesters vacated the site peacefully, though four individuals were arrested during the enforcement operation.
Subsequent to the arrests, police discovered on the following day that some demonstrators had either attached themselves to structures or had set up “tree sits” within the vicinity. On Wednesday, two women and a man were arrested for allegedly breaching the injunction; they were later released with conditions pending court appearances scheduled for January.
Following the arrests, authorities closed off the area to facilitate Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership in clearing the roadway to continue its logging operations. This enforcement operation comes in light of a British Columbia Supreme Court ruling in September, which granted the injunction to the forestry company. Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership is co-owned by Western Forest Products and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
The protesters initially issued a statement on August 25, in which they described their installation of a large wooden sculpture of a cougar as part of their campaign to prevent logging trucks from accessing the area. They called for the permanent protection of ancient forests throughout British Columbia. The Pacheedaht First Nation previously denounced the blockade, asserting that it obstructed approved forestry activities in their territory.
In a statement released shortly before the injunction was granted, Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership acknowledged the area’s “high ecological and cultural significance.” The company emphasized that their operational approach is reflective of this understanding, while aligning with the goals set by the Pacheedaht and British Columbia government to prioritize ecological integrity through “limited, carefully managed forest harvesting.”
Overall, a total of six individuals were arrested this week for alleged violations of the injunction, in addition to one man detained for criminal mischief. This enforcement highlights the ongoing tensions between environmentalists seeking to protect old-growth forests and the logging industry, as discussions regarding sustainable forestry practices continue in British Columbia.
