CLAYOQUOT SOUND DECISION - KEY ELEMENTS

Clayoquot Sound - one of five sounds on the west coast of Vancouver island - is comprised of various valleys, inlets, lakes, rivers, islands and forests.

The April 1993 land use decision by the government brings resolution to long-standing land use issues in the Sound.

Protected Areas Increased

The land within protected areas in Clayoquot Sound increases from 39,100 hectares to 87,600 hectares. This increases the proportion of protected land area in the Sound from 15 percent to 33 percent.

Megin Watershed

• largest intact watershed on Vancouver Island - now completely protected from headwaters to ocean
• this newly protected area contains over 21,000 hectares and includes the major Talbot Creek tributary. Combined with Strathcona Park this creates one of the largest areas of protected old growth rainforest on the west coast of North America

Upper Shelter Inlet

• protects an intact watershed of 3,900 hectares, including all of Watta and Shelter Creeks; in combination with Obstruction Island and coastal strips, this adds a total of 6000 hectares to the large Strathcona/Megin protected area
• contains scenic fjord and significant old growth rainforest

Sydney Inlet

• protects one of the best examples of a coastal fjord on Vancouver Island
• includes the Sydney River estuary

Outer Coastal Areas

• includes Hesquiat Peninsula and Trail, and coastal areas on Flores Island and Vargas Island
• protects rugged coast with vast sandy beaches comparable to Pacific Rim Park; includes sandstone reefs, sea caves, and coastal rainforests
• includes historic west coast telegraph trail in Hesquiat area

Clayoquot Arm/Clayoquot Lake

• protects lake and river in the lower Clayoquot valley; includes major salmon spawning habitat and Sitka spruce rainforest
• will provide canoeing, hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities

Clayoquot Plateau

• unique limestone features including caves sink holes
• contains 29 rare plant species

Other Protected Areas

• protects six smaller areas with special ecological or recreational features, including Dunlap and Morfee islands, Dawley Passage and Lane Islet, Kennedy River Bog, Kennedy Lake, Tranquil Creek Headwaters and Hesquiat Lake

CLAYOQUOT SOUND DECISION:
AREA ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS LAND USE CATEGORIES

* The total area of Clayoquot Sound is 350,000 hectares, of which about 87,000 hectares is ocean and lake. The 1993 decision also protects some lake and ocean areas which are not dealt with in this table.

Source: Government of British Columbia

INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREAS CONFIRMED

Working Forest Defined and High Standard of Forest Practices Set

• Forty-five percent of the Sound has been assigned to general integrated resource management, with timber harvesting as a major use. This is a reduction from the 81 percent previously assigned.
• The long term harvest level is estimated at 600,000 cubic metres per year, a reduction of approximately 300,000 cubic metres.
• Forest companies will be required to demonstrate good performance in meeting harvesting, environmental and scenic landscape standards through a "performance based operations" policy.
• Small, dispersed cut blocks will replace large scale clearcuts, and alternative harvesting methods such as helicopter and skyline logging will be emphasized to avoid road construction on sensitive steep terrain, and to reduce the overall number of logging roads.

Special Management Areas

1. Recreation
   • Recreation values in the Pretty Girl Lake/Holmes inlet area will be maintained through a resource use plan, to be completed before any timber harvesting.
2. Wildlife
   • Important wildlife values in Ursus Creek, including Roosevelt elk, will be maintained through a resource use plan, to be completed before any timber harvesting.

3. Scenic Corridors
   • Landscape management plans will be prepared to ensure that the key scenic landscape values important to tourism and recreation are not compromised. In the visually sensitive areas, only alternative harvesting methods such as selection logging will be used.

LOCAL JOBS AND COMMUNITY STABILITY

• Available working forest provides for the continuity of the MacMillan Bloedel Kennedy Lake logging division and the west coast operations of Interfor.
• Assuring a long term timber supply will provide greater economic stability for local communities.
• Newly protected areas and special management areas will protect significant ecological, recreational and scenic features, and will result in some economic benefits from the increasingly important tourism industry. Government will also work with forest companies, forest workers and local communities to mitigate the direct employment impact of this decision.