How we got here
The new reality requires new solutions
Our history
The Private Managed Forest Land Program was established in 2003 under the Private Managed Forest Land Act, under which landowners commit to manage their property for long-term forest production, including meeting legislated objectives for key public environmental values.
Of the 4.5 million hectares of private land in B.C., representing approximately 5% of the provincial land base, just over one million hectares is classed as managed forest
Stringent standards
Prior to 2003, private managed forest lands were managed under regulatory structures with stringent standards for forest management much in line with those for public forests. Emphasis was on conservative management of the annual harvest rates, reestablishment of viable forest crops, and consideration for other attributes of the forest ecosystem with respect to wildlife, water, and soils. A majority of private forests on Vancouver Island were rolled into Tree Farm Licence agreements with forest companies, ensuring effective forest management practices were applied equally to both public and private forests.
Shift away from government oversight
With the enactment of the Private Managed Forest Lands Act in 2003 there was a shift from government oversight and enforcement of forest management standards to a landowner controlled management model with a release of responsibility for management practices from government to forest companies. In addition, the government allowed the removal of massive private blocks from Tree Farm Licence agreements. Private forest lands were also firewalled from local government influence on land use decisions. Regional governments were prohibited from adopting bylaws or issuing permits that would restrict forest management activities.
Private managed forest lands were now isolated from government oversight at all levels and answerable to an appointed board of five members, selected largely from the private forest industry sector.
Where we are now
In the twenty plus years since enactment of the Private Managed Forest Lands Act, forest practices have resulted in an accelerated rate of cut using a short rotation (50 Years) clearcut silviculture system, mechanized harvesting, and an expanded raw log export economic model. A majority of the forests removed are located in watersheds serving coastal communities, degrading the ability for the affected ecosystems to provide stable, effective delivery of water resources, wildlife habitat, and recreational experiences. In comparison to forest management on public lands, impacts from harvesting are severe and widespread, involving whole watersheds with an elevated risk of negative impacts to hydrological and aquatic ecosystem function.
Recently a local watershed grassroots society – the Beaufort Watershed Stewards – have completed and published on their website a summary of six watersheds cumulative effects assessments, performed from 2021 to 2025. A total of 24,000 ha of managed forest land was assessed and the results showed that four of the six watersheds had a high-high risk of hydrological and aquatic dysfunction. Most significant was the risk is higher on Private Managed Forest Land than on Public Managed Forest Land.
Want to learn more? Read the reports