By Jeff Lawrence September 15, 2026 8:32 am

An area near Campbell River has been chosen to be the first place in B.C. where the province will explore a new approach aimed at balancing commercial logging with conservation and other land uses.

The province announced Tuesday that an area north of and adjacent to Campbell River will become the first candidate area for its proposed Working Forest Landscape Model.

The project is being developed in partnership with the Nanwakolas Council and four of its member First Nations: Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’omoks, along with input from the forestry industry and other stakeholders.

The proposed model would divide public forest land into three types of management zones: a working-forest zone that prioritizes sustainable commercial timber harvesting, a multiple-use zone focused on biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and activities such as wildfire mitigation, and a conservation and protection zone focused on long-term habitat and biodiversity protection.

“I am pleased that our powerful partnership with the Na̲nwak̲olas Council will chart the part forward for the first Working Forest Landscape Model candidate area,” said B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.

“Through this partnership, we are all in to identify solutions that support workers, communities, First Nations and industry. Delivering a working forest that will last for generations.”

The province says the Campbell River area was chosen in part because of its significant forestry employment and economic activity, along with its biodiversity and old-growth values.

The area also includes BC Timber Sales operating areas, allowing the province to examine how the three-zone model could work across different types of forest tenures.

The announcement comes as B.C.’s forestry sector faces mounting pressure from mill closures, declining access to economically viable timber, rising operating costs and U.S. trade measures.

Last week, a coalition of forestry groups warned Premier David Eby that the sector had reached a “breaking point” and called for immediate provincial action.

The groups, which include the BC Council of Forest Industries, BC First Nations Forestry Council and Truck Loggers Association, called on the province to increase the economically viable harvest to 45 million cubic metres annually, compared with a current projection of 29 million cubic metres.

The province has previously said the Working Forest Landscape Model is one tool it is exploring as it works toward the 45-million-cubic-metre target.

The province will now conduct technical, environmental and socio-economic analysis to determine how the three zones could be applies and whether new legislation would be required.

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