Vancouver Island old-growth logging protests

Activists on Canada — Vancouver Island, Canada — British Columbia, are again blockading logging roads to prevent the logging of old-growth forests, some of the rarest and most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth. The protests, which have spanned generations, have recently focused on areas like the Canada — Walbran Valley and Canada — Fairy Creek old-growth logging protests, where temporary protections are set to expire. The conflict involves First Nations communities, environmental groups, and the provincial government, which has pledged to increase timber harvests while also deferring some old-growth areas. Logging companies, including Western Forest Products and Tsawak-qin Forestry, continue operations, while activists risk arrest to protect the remaining ancient trees. The province has deferred or protected 2.4 million hectares since 2021, but critics say many measures are temporary. The dispute highlights tensions between economic development, conservation, and Indigenous rights.