Chronology of Events
1000
When first Norsemen "discover" North America, many of the huge ancient red cedars still
thriving in Clayoquot Sound were already tall trees, and Nuu-Chah-Nulth people had already occupied
the area for thousands of years.
1778
Captain Cook reaches Vancouver Island and "discovers" the Nuu-Chah-Nulth and their
rich culture based on cedar and salmon and sustainable resource use.
1955
Newly amalgamated MacMillan and Bloedel (MB) logging company granted perpetual tree farm
licence (TFL) with exclusive cutting rights over half of Clayoquot Sound, including an area of
forest then reserved for future park, without public consultation.
1956
Almost all the rest of Clayoquot Sound's forests, reserved for small loggers' use in a "Public
Working Circle", granted to British Columbia Forest Products (BCFP), a newly formed large logging
company. Forest Minister of the day sentenced to jail for accepting bribes to grant this licence.
Licence allowed to stand despite proven corruption.
1960s and 70s
Level of clearcutting continually increases to more than triple the initial rate at time
licences granted. Evidence of damage - especially accelerated erosion - grows.
1981-82
Local residents of Tofino organize to oppose proposed clearcutting of Meares Island, the source
of their drinking water. Government establishes Meares Planning Team.
1984
Government ignores planning team's recommendation for substantial preservation of Meares and
reconfirms allocation of 95% of timber on Meares to industry. Cutting permits issued. Native and
non-natives block company efforts to log. MB granted injunction to have protesters removed.
1985
Nuu-Chah-Nulth natives granted an injunction to halt MB's logging of Meares to maintain status
quo while their claim to aboriginal rights to the trees on Meares is before the courts.
1988
Local residents oppose road building along shoreline of pristine Sulphur Pass - entrance to the
largest region of natural unlogged rainforest on Vancouver Island. Courts grant injunction to New
Zealand based logging company, Fletcher Challenge (FC), who had recently purchased the TFL from
BCFP. 35 people defy the court orders and are arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail. FC
eventually halts Sulphur Pass road construction and develops alternative access road.
Tofino City Council and Chamber of Commerce ask provincial government for Sustainable
Development Strategy for area.
1989
Premier Bill Vander Zalm announces the formation of a Sustainable Development Task Force for
the Clayoquot Sound area.
1989-90
Task Force flounders because continued logging in study area compromises process outcome.
JAN 1991
Task Force restructured but is still focused on finding a consensus compromise between
logging-dependent communities and those dependent primarily on tourism and fisheries. Logging in
study area continues.
MAY 1991
Continuing "talk and log" process leads to the resignation of the task force's environment and
tourism representatives.
SEPT 1991
Meares Island case begins in Supreme Court of BC.
Blockade established in response to logging in the Bulson drainage.
JAN 1992
Provincial government establishes CORE (Commission On Resources and the Environment). It is
given an 18 month mandate to solicit public input and make recommendations regarding all of
Vancouver Island. Some land use conflict areas are granted "log around" moratoriums but none of
these are in Clayoquot Sound.
JUNE 1992
Task Force delays its final submission till September. BC Forest Service evokes emergency
measure to allow larger clearcut in Cold Creek area of Clayoquot River than recommended by the
Task Force's Interim Conservation and Development Panel.
Without any public debate and without recognition of CORE, the federal government announces
that Clayoquot Sound is a finalist for Green Plan "Model Forest Area" grant. Model Forest plan
calls for continued clearcuts and more research. $1 million of $5 million taxpayers dollars
allocated for the Model Forest plan to be spent on PR campaign to sell the concept of multiple use
(integrated resource management) rather than ancient forest preservation.
JULY 1992
CORE process has not yet begun.
Some local residents, citing that despite 13 years of efforts, not one tree in Clayoquot Sound
has been saved, initiated another non-violent civil disobedient blockade on a logging road leading
into the Clayoquot River area.
Meares Island case recessed to allow for a possible negotiated settlement between the
Nuu-Chah-Nulth and the government.
Companies continue to insist that only 10% of Clayoquot Sound should be preserved and that 90%,
including riversides, coastlines, and steep slopes, be logged using primarily clearcut methods
despite growing evidence of the ecological damage these methods cause and increasing public
pressure to save all remaining old growth in Clayoquot Sound.
