Reopen Walbran and Carmanah Valleys to the public
For decades, people have travelled to the Carmanah and Walbran Valleys, which contain the largest remaining intact old-growth rainforest valleys on southern Vancouver Island.
Why this matters
Access to both valleys is now restricted. In March 2026, the B.C. government authorized three gates on roads leading into the Walbran Valley in unceded Pacheedaht territory. Meanwhile a November 2025 landslide that blocked the main access road to the Carmanah Valley remains uncleared. Provincial officials say there is no timeline for reopening the route because it is not required for industrial use.
What you can do
Write to the district manager responsible for the area, local MLA Josie Osborne and Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar to express your concern about restrictions on public access to old-growth forests. Tell them that limiting public access while maintaining industrial access is unacceptable, and urge them to restore access to these globally significant old-growth forests.
Points to consider:
(Add or edit your letter)
- Locking people out of Walbran and Carmanah hurts old-growth access, transparency and environmental stewardship. Please restore safe public access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- I am deeply concerned by the new gates installed by logging companies in the Walbran Valley. Public access shouldn't be blocked while industrial logging continues. Please remove these gate permits and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- The main access road to the Carmanah Valley has been left blocked since the November 2025 landslides. Leaving it closed just because industry doesn't need it is unfair to British Columbians. Please repair this route and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- It is wrong that forestry roads are quickly maintained for logging operations, while public access routes are gated or left abandoned. Industry should not be prioritized over citizens. Please fix this imbalance and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- Public access to southern Vancouver Island’s ancient forests is slipping away due to gates and road neglect. We need immediate government action to protect public use of these public lands. Please reverse these restrictions and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
Points to consider:
(Add or edit your letter)
- Locking people out of Walbran and Carmanah hurts old-growth access, transparency and environmental stewardship. Please restore safe public access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- I am deeply concerned by the new gates installed by logging companies in the Walbran Valley. Public access shouldn't be blocked while industrial logging continues. Please remove these gate permits and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- The main access road to the Carmanah Valley has been left blocked since the November 2025 landslides. Leaving it closed just because industry doesn't need it is unfair to British Columbians. Please repair this route and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- It is wrong that forestry roads are quickly maintained for logging operations, while public access routes are gated or left abandoned. Industry should not be prioritized over citizens. Please fix this imbalance and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.
- Public access to southern Vancouver Island’s ancient forests is slipping away due to gates and road neglect. We need immediate government action to protect public use of these public lands. Please reverse these restrictions and allow access to the Walbran and Carmanah Valleys.