Welcome to the South Island Forest District Web Site

Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year from the South Island Forest District Staff

*For information on Christmas Tree Farms in the district visit the web link.

**National Forest Week 2006 (September 23-30) was a great success. The 7th Annual Forest Day was held on the west coast with displays by many involved in the resource sector.  In Port Alberni, the South Island Forest District hosted a pancake breakfast, open house and visited some local school children to educate them about forest management.  Those involved wish to thank the many volunteers and donors who helped make these events a success.  National Forest Week 2007 will be held the last full week of September 2007 (Sunday through Saturday).  If you are interested in participating or registering your event contact: Emma Neill at (250) 731-3022 or via e-mail. For more information see the NFW web page.

***Wildlife Habitat Areas (1-190 to 1-197) for Scouler's corydalis were approved on May 23, 2006 under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the regulations made under that Act. Notification of these WHAs was published in the June 1, 2006 issue of the BC Gazette and were posted on the MOE approved WHA web site on June 28, 2006. Pursuant to section 4 of the Government Actions Regulation these WHAs took effect on June 28, 2006. For more information visit the Objectives Matrix Wildlife section or the MoE web site

**** The approved Government Action Regulation (GAR) Order for visual quality objectives (VQO) is now in full effect (April 15, 2006). For more information see below.

Located within the Coastal Forest Region, the South Island Forest District (SIFD) covers the southern third of Vancouver Island.  The district boundaries extend from Victoria to Denman and Hornby Island on the east coast, and from Victoria to the southern shores of Nootka Sound (Gold River) on the west coast.  The district office is located in Port Alberni, and has a smaller office located in Cobble Hill.  Link to Forest Region and District Map. 

The estimated population for this area is greater than 550,000 (17% of the provincial population).  The major population centers are Victoria, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet, Lake Cowichan, Nanoose, and Chemainus. 

On the east side of the island there is a long history of timber harvesting. The forested area is principally second or third growth stands comprised of Douglas-fir, with minor amounts of red alder, western red cedar, western hemlock, grand fir, and western white pine.  A substantial portion of this area is private forest land.  Crown lands are relatively small, and fragmented on the east coast.

On the west side of the island there is a shorter history of harvesting.  The forested area is principally old growth forests with some younger second growth.  Stands along the west coast are comprised mainly of western hemlock, western red cedar, amabilis fir, yellow cedar, with minor amounts of red alder, Douglas-fir, and mountain hemlock. For additional information on the vegetation see the biogeoclimatic zones map of BC.
For more factual information on Coast Forest Region and Vancouver Island visit the BC Forest Information web site.

Thirty six First Nations have traditional territories located within the geographical area of the South Island Forest District. Four treaty associations and two tribal council represent all but three of the First Nations (click for FN contact information).