B.C.’s War in the Woods: A case study comparison of Clayoquot Sound and Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek blockades

Abstract

British Columbia is a province that has been shaped by the forestry industry. Old growth forests have provided a significant component of British Columbia’s economic growth and stability. However, the value of these ancient forests is far beyond the price of timber. Old growth forests hold some of the most environmentally significant and valuable forests across the globe and represent an abundance of social values, cultural significance, and sustainable economic opportunities. In response to the continued logging of old growth, activist efforts have formed to challenge unsustainable forestry practices and the lack of First Nations land rights. The Clayoquot Sound region is where social action for old growth forests in Canada began, and Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek marks the most recent action. As the remaining old growth becomes scarcer over time, the tensions continue to escalate. This paper tells the story of the Clayoquot Sound and Ada’itsx activism through the circumstances and policy leading to the activism efforts and the events of the blockades. The exploration of the Clayoquot Sound case study highlights the impacts of the social movement on policy, industry, and activism. These impacts lead to the examination of the Ada’itsx case study and the current situation. The individual analyses of the two case studies are then connected to address questions surrounding the future of British Columbia’s old growth forests.