Giant yellow cedar cut despite B.C. law meant to protect it; Forests Ministry probes
A legally protected giant yellow cedar on Crown land south of Gold River, Vancouver Island, was felled in 2023–24 despite meeting B.C.’s size threshold. Campaigner Joshua Wright’s formal complaint has prompted a Forests Ministry investigation.
Key takeaways
- Protected species: Yellow cedar measured at 2.79 m (9.15 ft) DBH, above the 2.65 m legal threshold.
- Location & timing: Fell within an approved northern Vancouver Island cutblock south of Gold River in 2023–24.
- Process failure: No public record of a ministerial exemption or pre-felling report; the system relies on operator self-reporting.
- Investigation: B.C. Forests Ministry confirmed an active probe after Joshua Wright’s complaint.
What happened
Initial documentation: Independent campaigner Joshua Wright photographed and measured a standing yellow cedar in a cutblock on Crown land south of Gold River. The tree had spray-painted marks when first observed, indicating it had been noted in the field layout.
Later finding: Wright returned to find the tree felled as part of an approved logging operation and recorded a trunk diameter at breast height of 2.79 m (9.15 ft DBH), larger than the protection threshold for yellow cedar.
What the law requires
Under B.C.’s Special Tree Protection Regulation (2020), certain tree species become “specified trees” automatically once they exceed species-specific DBH thresholds listed in the Schedule. For yellow cedar the threshold is 2.65 m DBH. When a tree is a specified tree, the responsible person — typically the forest licensee or logging operator — must not cut, damage or destroy it and must leave a buffer of supporting trees within 56 metres, except under narrow ministerial exemptions.
The regulation also obliges operators to report qualifying trees to the minister within 30 days with location, species and authorization details; exemptions may be granted only for limited reasons such as safety or cultural uses. For the regulation text see the B.C. Special Tree Protection Regulation.
Why this tree should have been protected
Wright’s field measurement of 2.79 m DBH placed the tree clearly above the 2.65 m threshold for yellow cedar, which under the regulation should have made it a specified tree entitled to protection along with its supporting trees in a 56 m radius. Wright told reporters the tree “was clearly above the threshold for what the government is supposed to be protecting and what industry is supposed to be protecting.” Sources reporting the case include Global News and Town & Country Today.
How it was felled despite protections
Reporting shows the standing tree had spray-painted marks when first seen, suggesting field identification, yet it was later found cut within an approved cutblock. There is no public record that a ministerial exemption was sought or granted for this tree, nor that the tree was reported as a specified tree before felling. The situation highlights the system’s reliance on licensees and operators to identify and report protected trees.
Forests Ministry response
Investigation: After Wright filed a formal complaint, B.C.’s Forests Ministry confirmed it is investigating the felling but said it could not comment on specifics while the probe is ongoing. The ministry stated the province has enforcement mechanisms and can apply penalties if violations are found. No public enforcement outcome was reported in the cited sources at the time of reporting (Global News; Town & Country Today).
Systemic issues critics point to
- High thresholds: The DBH thresholds are very large, protecting only a small number of the oldest trees; many ecologically valuable trees remain unprotected (BCTreehunter).
- Self-reporting conflict: The system depends on operators who profit from harvests to identify and report trees that could limit cutting — an inherent conflict critics say creates detection gaps (Global News; Town & Country Today).
- Weak auditing and transparency: Critics argue the ministry lacks proactive field audits and that ministerial exemption power can be opaque; public reporting of exemptions and enforcement actions is limited (BCTreehunter; B.C. legislation).
Broader context
B.C. only recently enacted compulsory protections for individual big trees on Crown land. Before the Special Tree Protection Regulation (2020), protections were largely via designations such as Old Growth Management Areas or Wildlife Management Areas and were limited. A 2019 policy listing notable trees was replaced in 2020 by the current regulation, which some critics say is weaker and more favorable to timber companies (BCTreehunter).
Why the case matters
Advocates present the Gold River yellow cedar case as a test of the credibility of B.C.’s big-tree protection system: an example of a tree the rules were meant to save where protections apparently failed. The incident could shape public, media and policy responses on how the province balances timber harvest with conservation.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Economic impact
Provincial rules and enforcement perceptions can affect timber supply expectations across the Pacific Northwest. Inland Empire buyers and businesses should monitor whether enforcement changes create tighter limits or shift supply costs and may demand clearer chain-of-custody assurances from suppliers.
Political consequences
The case could prompt calls for stronger oversight and transparency in B.C., influencing cross-border policy dialogues and trade expectations. Local officials and voters may cite this as a reason to support independent audits and public reporting in natural-resource regulation.
Social and cultural effects
Large old trees carry cultural and heritage value. Public concern over such losses may increase pressure for stronger protections, better enforcement, and sustainable forestry practices that reduce wildfire risk and protect watersheds for communities in the Inland Empire.
Practical applications for locals
Insurers, land managers and forest product buyers may use this case to review sourcing policies and demand more supplier transparency. Local governments and nonprofits could press for clearer labeling of forest products and regional cooperation on inventories of old growth and big trees.
Sources and further reading
- Global News: “Giant yellow cedar cut despite B.C.’s Special Tree Protection Regulation”
- Town & Country Today: “Why was incredible giant cedar cut down despite B.C.’s big-tree protection law?”
- B.C. Special Tree Protection Regulation (2020) text
- BCTreehunter analysis: “Protecting ancient trees in British Columbia”
Investigation update
The Forests Ministry confirmed it is investigating Joshua Wright’s complaint and has declined to provide details during the active probe. No public findings, penalties, or policy responses related to this incident had been released in the cited sources at the time of filing (Global News).
“The tree was clearly above the threshold for what the government is supposed to be protecting and what industry is supposed to be protecting,” — Joshua Wright (reported).
