This 48-hectare Dry Maritime forest near Powell River in Tla’amin and shíshálh territory contains an exceptionally scenic stretch of coastline. It is accessible and offers hiking trails, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing that are popular with locals. If protected, it could be a version of West Vancouver’s famous Lighthouse Park.
The parcel, on Mosaic Forest Management’s private lands, is known as DL 3040 and includes sensitive ecosystems of arbutus/rocky outcrops, second-growth Douglas-fir and redcedar trees of high community recreation and scenic value, an eagle nesting tree, and scattered, huge old-growth “veteran” Douglas-fir and redcedar trees. Friends of Stillwater Bluffs, a local citizen group, has been pushing the Powell River Regional District and the provincial government to assist in funding the area’s purchase. Since 2007, Island Timberlands (now Mosaic) has had a proposal to subdivide the industrial land around Stillwater Bay, but the project has stalled for many reasons.
Ultimately, a Provincial Land Acquisition Fund is needed to purchase and permanently protect endangered ecosystems on private lands.
Take action by sending an instant message to protect old-growth forests.
