In Photos: Old-Growth Forest on Karst in the Tahsish Valley

In the upper Tahsish Valley on northern Vancouver Island stands the “Jewel of the Tahsish,” one of the grandest remaining unprotected old-growth karst rainforests in BC and an area of exceptional conservation value that deserves national recognition.

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Karst forests, where ancient trees grow atop limestone, are among the rarest and most biologically productive ecosystems in BC. After decades of logging in the region, the vast majority of old-growth karst forests have been clearcut and replaced with second-growth tree plantations.

This roughly 235-hectare grove, within the territories of the Kyuquot/Checleseht and Quatsino First Nations, is shaped by remarkable karst features, from sinkholes to caves, and is alive with towering ancient trees, vibrant plant understories, and abundant signs of wildlife.
But despite being recommended for logging deferral by the BC government’s independent science panel, the forest remains unprotected today, with parts now at imminent risk of logging by BC Timber Sales — the government’s own logging agency.

Martin Davis, Mayor of Tahsis, explains, “As a caver, conservationist, and Mayor of Tahsis, I’ve seen firsthand how vital karst ecosystems are, not only for biodiversity, but for the growing ecotourism opportunities built around their remarkable cave systems and rainforests.”
To defer logging in this old-growth karst forest — and across the other remaining 1.3 million+ hectares of priority at-risk old-growth forests in BC — AFA is calling on the province to deliver “solutions space” funding for First Nations-led logging deferrals and a proactive BC Protected Areas Strategy to secure lasting protection.

“It’s hard to grasp how rare this old-growth karst forest is unless you’ve made the long journey there — it’s like an emerald oasis in a sea of clearcuts and tree plantations that now define much of the landscape on Vancouver Island,” said TJ Watt, AFA campaign director and photographer.

Browse the full photo gallery to explore the stunning features of the “Jewel of the Tahsish,” and read the full story here.