Our mission is to maintain and enhance North Cowichan's valuable municipal forest resources for all users through sustainable forestry, ecological stewardship, & sound fiscal management.
The MFR consists of six major land holdings: Mount Prevost, Mount Sicker, Mount Tzouhalem, Stoney Hill, Mount Richards, and Maple Mountain, plus a number of smaller parcels including Grace Road, Panorama Ridge, and near Cottonwood Road by Fuller Lake arena. The MFR is 5,000+ hectares and makes up approximately 25% of the land base in North Cowichan.
- Interactive forest map: The map displays where the reserve is located, the types and ages of trees you will find in the forest, recreational trail locations, sensitive ecosystems the forest supports, and past forestry activity.
- Take a forestry tour.
Since the 1990s, intensive forest management has been taking place to maintain healthy and sustainable forests. The forests have been sustainably managed, meeting or exceeding industry standards and best practices. The current harvesting practices include small patch-cut style openings with green tree retention with all harvested areas re-planted at the earliest opportunity.
Municipal Forest Review
North Cowichan is reviewing its forest reserve management practices, with the intent to develop options for a future management plan. A technical review plus concurrent public engagement took place between 2020 and 2023, and concluded with a report to Council outlining a preferred forest management scenario that favoured ecological and sustainable values. A carbon feasibility study was undertaken in 2020, and aspects of revenue generation through carbon credits is combined with the preferred forest management plan scenario. In 2023, an additional evaluation was undertaken to review the technical analysis for a potential carbon project, including the financial assumptions used for both carbon and timber pricing used as part of the forest management plan scenario development.
- Read more about the public engagement process for the Municipal Forest Reserve Review
In addition to the technical review and public engagement, a working group with the Quw’utsun Nation - which is comprised of Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Stz’uminus First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, and Lyackson First Nation - was established to share information in relationship to the stewardship and use of the MFR for the benefit of the community. The agreement signifies the commitment by both parties to continue meeting and to discuss activities in the MFR. These meetings are ongoing.
A Memorandum of Understanding with the Quw'utsun Nation established this working relationship.
A forest management plan based on the preferred scenario, and any outcomes or direction developed through the MOU with the Quw’utsun Nation, will be developed.