Clear-Cutting of the Coastal Temperate Rainforest: A Brief Analysis of Clayoquot Sound

Introduction

The unique ecosystem of the coastal temperate rainforest will be examined, specifically focussing on the Clayoquot Sound region on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The British Columbian government's decision to allow for clear-cutting of the region and the outcome of the protests opposing the clear-cutting will be outlined. Specific characteristics of a coastal temperate rainforest and outline its unique biodiversity will be identified. Aside from logging, these old growth forests have many ecological goods and services to offer, and the economic benefits of the alternatives are outlined. First Nations have a vested interest in the area, and have land rights in much of the region, their involvement in the management of the forest will be analyzed. In 2000 the area was designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve (Reed and Massie, 2013), an examination of the changes to management and biodiversity brought on by the designation will be included. Finally, the current status of the forest and regulations will be evaluated for their usefulness to future sustainability.

Scholarly papers, government documents, and non-profit websites were examined to obtain the data required to evaluate the past and current state of the temperate rainforest in Clayoquot Sound. Due to the older nature of the logging disputes, papers from 1993 onwards were utilized in order to include all relevant information. Websites, reports, and newsletters were taken from non-profit organizations such as The Sierra Club and Friends of Clayoquot Sound as they were directly related to the Clayoquot Sound protection advocacy and implementation. The Government of British Columbia website was used to obtain information about forestry policies and First Nations Treaties. Specifically, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations was a significant source of information. These sources assisted in achieving the purpose of this research paper: to explore the history of Clayoquot Sound, the implications of government and First Nations intervention, the implications of logging on the biodiversity of the region, and finally any implications for the future.

Background Information

Clayoquot Sound is located on the west coast of British Columbia's Vancouver Island (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). It is a culturally and naturally diverse area, as is evidenced by the biogeoclimatic map shown in Figure 1 (Government of BC, 2003). As the figure demonstrates, the province is home to over 10 unique and distinct biogeoclimatic zones, with temperatures becoming increasingly mild as you move west (Government of BC, 2003). Clayoquot Sound is classified as a coastal temperate rainforest, which is a rare biogeoclimate that covers less than 1% of the world's land base. These regions experience extremely high biodiversity due to the high quality habitat and mild temperatures (Sierra Club, 2009). A unique feature of the BC, jurisdiction is that approximately 95% of the province is owned by the BC government, which means that the 90 million hectares of Clayoquot Sound are managed on behalf of the residents (Government of BC, 2003). Since the government is in charge of managing the natural resources of the province, they set the timber annual allowable cut, and are in charge of dispersing this information to the forestry companies, First Nations, communities and individuals. The government also works closely with First Nations treaty rights to ensure they are given the land they are entitled to (Government of BC, 2003).

Figure 1 classifies the various biogeoclimatic zones in BC, showing how diverse the region is. It is interesting to note how much of the area is represented by Coastal Western Hemlock, considering this is the main component of coastal temperate rainforest. This region represents much of the remaining coastal temperate rainforest in the world.

The history of Clayoquot Sound has been shaped through many government and First Nation interactions, as well as through input from outside sources. By 1989 most of the region had been allocated for forestry, with MacMillan Bloedel holding the largest claim (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). The Clayoquot Sound Development Steering Committee was formed to prepare a land use plan for the region, however their plan did not receive unanimous support, therefore it did not pass. In April of 1993 the BC government released its land use plan, based on what the Clayoquot Sound Development Steering Committee had previously recommended, for the area (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). The plan designated 33% of the area for protection, 45% for commercial timber use and 17% for special management areas (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). The special management areas were primarily buffer zones between logging regions and the coastline of the island (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). Through this plan the British Columbian government had also given MacMillan Bloedel permission to clear-cut up to 70% of the 350,000 hectares of Clayoquot Sound (Walter, 2007). Clear-cut logging is the process of removing all trees from a portion of forest (NRDC, N.D.). The implementation of this management plan was not supported by the First Nations communities or the general population. In 1993 the Friends of Clayoquot Sound organization set up a protest camp along an active logging road to voice their displeasure for the clear-cutting practices of the logging industry. Over 10,000 protestors participated in the protests that lasted from July to October, making it the largest demonstration of its type in Canadian history (Lavallee and Suedfeld, 1997). In order to keep the protests in line with the initial purposes, a "Peace Camp" was created to house the protesters, as well as to ensure there were rules and standards for continuing a nonviolent protest (Walter, 2007). The protests were nationally recognized, partially due to Clayoquot Sound being a popular tourist destination, as well as its pristine natural beauty (Tindall, 2013). The environmental movement had been blossoming in the years before, also leading to increased attention for the 1993 protests. This movement helped people to understand the importance of ecology and biodiversity, and the health aesthetics and spiritual aspects of the environment (Tindall, 2013).

Coastal Temperate Rainforest

The coastal temperate rainforest is a unique ecosystem, with approximately half of the global rainforest left worldwide, and half of this occurring in North America. In BC the coastal temperate rainforest occurs on the coast of the mainland and covers most of Vancouver Island, see Figure 1 for a map (Government of BC, 2003). Almost all of the undeveloped coastal temperate rainforest exists in British Columbia (Bunnell, 2008). The forest on Vancouver Island is warmed by passing ocean currents and experiences large volumes of rain due to the prevailing westerly winds (Walter, 2007). Measurable precipitation occurs 200 or more days of the year and temperatures are relatively mild in the winter and relatively cool in the summer due to the regulating properties of the nearby ocean. The coastal temperate rainforest is made up of three major biogeoclimatic zones: Coastal Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, and Coastal Douglas-Fir (Bunnell, 2008).

The Coastal Western Hemlock zone covers about 87% of the temperate coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island and occurs at elevations below 900m sea level. Flora and fauna flourish in the zone and some of the largest and oldest trees grow there (Bunnell, 2008). Western hemlock is the most abundant tree in the zone with Western red cedar and Douglas-fir also occurring. Wetter and higher elevation sites grow the Amabilis fir and yellow cedar. 1000 to 4400 mm of precipitation falls in the zone, and the average temperature ranges from 5.2-10.5°C (Bunnell, 2008). An abundance of bryophytes and lichens grow in the area, many endemic, or native, to the region. Mountain Hemlock represents 12% of the land and the remaining one percent is represented by Coastal Douglas-fir, in the southern rain shadow (Bunnell, 2008).

Biodiversity is extremely high in the coastal temperate rainforest. Approximately 175 forest-dwelling, terrestrial vertebrate species breed within the area, which reflects the complex stand structure (Bunnell, 2008). Lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants prosper in regions where there are dead trees and rotting wood, as is common on the forest floor of the region. More species use these structures, cavities and downed wood, than in any other forest type in the forest, emphasizing the diversity of the region (Bunnell, 2008). The area is naturally very diverse and is important not only for economic reasons, but also in preserving the culture of the First Nations who traditionally lived in the area.

First Nations' History on Vancouver Island

The West Coast of Vancouver Island is home to 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. The Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht are the three First Nations that have traditional territories in the region of Clayoquot Sound (Mabee and Hoberg, 2006). The Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations have interacted and maintained relationships with non-Native people since as early as the 1770s. These relationships began with the fur trade and European interests that were focused on profits through sea otter pelts (Goetze, 2005). Nuu-chah-nulth were some of the first communities to take part in the fur trade on the Pacific Coast due to their strong bargaining abilities and confidence in negotiating with the European settlers (Goetze, 2005). When the fur trade ended in the 1850s the Nuu-chah-nulth helped the Europeans create settlements on the land. This proved to be less beneficial to the First Nations as the settlers looked to develop more permanent economies on the land, and did not require the trade assistance of the communities (Goetze, 2005). In 1849 after Vancouver Island was established, the governor purchased 14 segments of land from First Nations living along the south and north east coasts. The First Nations were free to continue their routines such as hunting, fishing, and trapping in the area, although their subsistence lifestyle did not continue for long as the settlers quickly bought the land for their own gains (Goetze, 2005).

Comprehensive treaties were required to be negotiated in order to identify their traditional territories and rights (Goetze, 2005). As logging concerns arose in the 1970s the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations brought up the conflicts surrounding irresponsible resource use by the government. Damage to streams due to the logging debris, among various other issues, was addressed through negotiations with the government and logging companies (Goetze, 2005). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations had many land claims surrounding their traditional territories. By 1994 they entered a treaty process with the BC Government (Goetze, 2005). Their aim with the treaty formation was to recognize and protect their Aboriginal rights to resources, but also ensure decision making would continue within a cooperative framework (Goetze, 2005).

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is currently negotiating a treaty with the Government of British Columbia. They are in Stage 4 which is outlined by the BC Treaty website as the agreement that will form the basis for the eventual treaty (BC Treaty, 2009). Throughout this process both parties must include their essential points of agreement and develop plans for implementation of the treaty (BC Treaty, 2009). The framework must be agreed upon by both parties before it can move on to Stage 5 which is the negotiations that will finalize the treaty (BC Treaty, 2009).

Government Management of Clayoquot Sound

The government management of old-growth temperate rainforests in Clayoquot Sound was catered to multinational forestry companies. Originally, the resources were harvested in pursuit of short-term profit through clear-cutting, the most efficient mode of extraction (Goetze, 2005). The province was aiming to encourage economic growth and job creation. Due to the recession in the 1980s the government saw logging as a large economic benefit and relaxed their sustainability guidelines around the amount of timber logged (Goetze, 2005). The increase in logging resulted in a decrease in consultation with the First Nations communities, with the forestry companies taking charge in what was deemed to be sustainable for the forests and the surrounding ecosystems (Goetze, 2005). While the government did recognize that clear-cutting was an unsustainable solution to forest management, they were primarily focused on the economic bottom line (Goetze, 2005). After the 1993 Land Use decision, 900 square kilometres, or 34% of Clayoquot Sound were designated for protection by the government (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). The land was designated to ensure the protection of the environment, local, communities, and the economy (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). The reserve forms a link from the mountains of interior BC to the coast line of Vancouver Island, providing less chance for fragmentation of key species and habitat areas (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). Of the 900 square kilometres, 700 of them are temperate rainforest, providing a key ecosystem for approximately 29 rare plant species, significant old growth forest, salmon spawning habitat, and rare marine ecosystems (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). It was critically important that the government set aside this area for protection, as all other stands of temperate rainforest ecosystems in the world are under some sort of threat from human destruction. Aside from the 34% of Clayoquot Sound that was completely protected, the government also placed 21% more of Clayoquot Sound under "special management" (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). This special management allows for some logging, but no clear-cutting, and still emphasizes the importance of protecting wildlife, along with recreational and aesthetic values (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). After the Land Use Decision was enacted only 40% of Clayoquot Sound was open to integrated resource management (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). Integrated resource management allows for logging and other resource extraction such as mining and fishing (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). In order for a forestry company to receive approval from the Government of BC to undergo any logging, in Clayoquot Sound they must meet standards for forest management planning, road building and harvesting limits (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). Conventional clear-cutting has been replaced by variable retention harvesting,–,which is a system that ensures key elements of the forest are left intact, allowing for the forest to healthily regenerate (BC Ministry of Forests, N.D.). The Scientific Panel also recommended that ecological assessments should be conducted for undeveloped watersheds before any additional resource extraction was undertaken (BC, Ministry of Forests, N.D.).

Discussion

The coastal temperate rainforest is an essential asset to the province of British Columbia, and should be protected accordingly. A 2009 report by the Sierra Club of BC outlines the importance of old-growth forests in BC's greater ecosystems. In order to avoid species extinction in the coastal temperate rainforest, a minimum of 30% of old-growth forests need to be conserved, while 70% of natural levels should be conserved to ensure low risks to species loss (Sierra Club, 2009). Much of the ecosystems on Vancouver Island are below this threshold, with many species extinct or close to extinction. A potential benefit of the coastal temperate rainforest is its proximity to the ocean, which may buffer it from some effects of climate change (Sierra Club, 2009).

Coastal temperate rainforest is an excellent carbon sink, with an estimated carbon storage potential of 1,000 tonnes per hectare (Sierra Club, 2009). Taking advantage of this carbon storage opportunity will be important in achieving carbon reduction goals faced by Canada in the future. On Vancouver Island alone, approximately 1 million hectares of old-growth forest have already been lost, amounting to a loss of approximately 100 million tonnes of carbon reservoir (Sierra Club, 2009). Emissions from logging also contribute close to 370 million tonnes of carbon to the atmosphere (Sierra Club, 2009). This loss of a carbon reservoir coupled with the emissions from logging lead to an unbalanced emissions profile. The coastal temperate rainforest is set to become an important resource in a potentially carbon focused market of the future.

These important ecosystems are rapidly declining, with approximately 50% of all coastal temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island at high risk for species loss. It is essential to create protection and conservation areas on the island, especially since 13% of the land on Vancouver Island has already been converted from old-growth forest (Sierra Club, 2009).

Climate Change Impact on the Coastal Temperate Rainforest

Climate change has to the potential to impact almost every ecosystem on the planet, and coastal ecosystems are often the first to feel the effects. Coastal temperate rainforest is no different. Shanley et al. (2015),conducted a study of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),models predicting the possible scenarios due to anthropogenic climate change. They found the results for indicators on the coastal temperate rainforest in Alaska and British Columbia are all projected to increase. Specifically, the report found through analysis of IPCC models and representative concentration pathways:

This table outlines the potential for a large increase in temperature and precipitation in the form of rain, but a decrease in precipitation in the form of snow. There are many outcomes for the region based on these increases. These results will cause a cascade effect on the ecosystem, with a plethora of new and extreme weather events. Some issues will include an increase in floods, reduced snowpack, effects on river flow, shifts in suitable wildlife habitat, and many additional impacts (Shanley et al., 2015). The people of the region typically rely heavily on the ecosystems goods and services, such as fishing, forestry, and ecotourism (Shanley et al., 2015). If these extreme events start occurring with more frequency the First Nations and other community members will lose their livelihood.

Climate change could potentially affect the ecosystem goods and services that the population depend upon for their economic benefits. Particularly, the fishery habitat could be altered, hydropower opportunities may become less dependable, and ecotourism activities could decline (Shanley et al., 2015). It is not expected that climate change will have an affect on forestry, further to the restrictions already put in place in the region (Shanley et al., 2015). Climate change also has the potential to effect the biodiversity of the region, so measures must be taken to protect the endemic and rich variety of species living in the coastal temperate rainforest.

Biodiversity Conservation Strategies

As outlined by the Government of British Columbia in the 1970s and 1980s, the logging company MacMillan Bloedel was granted logging rights of the region. Forestry in the region is difficult to pursue due to steep slopes, wet soil, and large equipment. After strong opposition to the clear-cutting of the region, MacMillan Bloedel agreed to stop clear-cutting in 1998 (Bunnell, 2008). In order to create a more sustainable forestry management plan, the company divided the forest into three different harvest zones, based on intensity of harvest. The first zone is the timber zone, and is classified as the primary source of economic value, and most of the productive harvest was found in the area (Bunnell, 2008). The provision of late-seral features is meant to allow for species to survive that would not otherwise if clear-cutting was in place (Bunnell, 2008). Secondly, the habitat zone has higher retention levels than the timber zone, and only 70% of the forest is available for harvest. The goal of the habitat zone is to conserve organisms that make up the biological diversity of the area (Bunnell, 2008). Finally, the old growth zone is mostly protected as to maintain late-seral forest conditions (Bunnell, 2008).

Variable retention was implemented in all zones to retain appropriate habitat structures to maintain biodiversity. Objectives of structure retention include: increasing species richness in managed stands through connection across the landscape to provide refuge and survival for species after harvesting of timber; creating opportunities to meet market demand of harvesting trees that will not be detrimental to forest health, vigour, genetic composition, or timber quality; meeting social expectations of stewardship and, visual aesthetics; and, meeting site-specific needs for regeneration and habitat (Bunnell, 2008). The three categories of retention are shown on Figure 2. Retention is managed differently based on the amount of trees that need to be kept in place to achieve biodiversity. Small groups of trees are retained together on the same cut block for group and mixed retention, while substantial amounts of trees are cut without leaving any in groups for dispersed retention (Bunnell, 2008). These methods are important to reduce potential habitat fragmentation that occurs with logging roads and powerlines. For species to have the best chance of survival, large areas of habitat must be preserved.

Economic Valuation of the Coastal Temperate Rainforest

Clayoquot Sound and The Great Bear Rainforest are both coastal temperate rainforest. The Great Bear Rainforest is located on the west coast of inland British Columbia. Both are positioned to provide economic benefits for the province, with and without logging. The book, "Great Bear Markets: The Interface of Finance, Forestry and Conservation in BC's Great Bear Rainforest", by Andrew Norden and James Tansey outlines the economic gains that the Great Bear Rainforest can produce. Since Clayoquot Sound is the same ecosystem, and under the same provincial governance, comparisons and suggestions can be made between the two. Reduction of logging in the area can create carbon offsets through the carbon that is being stored in the remaining trees (Norden, 2011). Potential ways to earn revenue in the area include: ecotourism, hunting, logging, fishing licenses, and carbon offsetting. Carbon offsetting has the largest and most immediate potential to be economically viable based on the large stands of forests. The initial obstacle is the development of a carbon market with formal compliance. In BC, this began with the formation of the Pacific Carbon Trust (Norden, 2011). In 2013 Pacific Carbon Trust, responsible for carbon offsets for the provincial public-sector organizations, announced that the organization would be transitioned to fall under the Climate Action Secretariat through the Ministry of Environment (Pacific Carbon Trust, 2014). The potential offset inventory of the Great Bear Rainforest, which covers 6.4 million hectares of land (Price et al., 2009) is 1 million tonnes per year for the first 30 years. A typical carbon transaction for a single buyer is usually 30,000 to 100,000 tonnes (Norden, 2011). This means that the revenue coming from carbon offsetting alone could be valued at $4 million a year. This will be split 50/50 between the First Nations in the area and the provincial government (Norden, 2011). In Clayoquot Sound, First Nations have similar land rights, and the government would have to reach an agreement with them to start carbon offsetting projects. Clayoquot Sound covers 350,000 hectares, and is substantially smaller than the Great Bear Rainforest, but there is still economic potential for the First Nations and government to profit from a carbon, offsetting project (Mabee and Hoberg, 2006).Continued on Next Page »