(Andy MacKinnon at Six Mountains art show in June 2026)
ELECTION NOTEBOOK #3: Acclaimed ecologist and author Andy MacKinnon explains why North Cowichan’s coastal Douglas-fir forest is endangered
Only a few months ago, a 4-3 pro-development bloc on North Cowichan council stood poised to renew logging in the Municipal Forest Reserve — part of the most endangered forest type in BC, maybe even Canada.
This despite a municipal on-line survey in 2023 showing 76-per-cent support for conservation-based management options for the forest reserve. A statistically valid random phone survey of residents showed 67-per-cent support.
Only an 11th-hour plea from Halalt Chief James Thomas saved the day. Council voted to complete a co-management partnership agreement with Quw’utsun Nation prior to reconsidering forest harvesting as a strategic priority.
Read more: https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/51222b92-cc03-488a-8b9d-6ddad0409829
With a municipal election set for October 17, it’s a good time for citizens to learn more about the coastal Douglas-fir forest.
As such, Six Mountains has condensed a talk June 10, 2026, by noted ecologist and author Andy MacKinnon to the Six Mountains art show at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council in Duncan.
(Andy MacKinnon gives talk at Six Mountains art show in June 2026)
The video is only about 16 minutes long, but is full of information on why our forests are endangered, and offers hope for conservation.
(Video: Nazar Associates Inc. Editing: J Tyerman.)
Subscribe free to sixmountains.ca. More than 143,000 unique visitors. Please consider a donation.
— Larry Pynn, Sept. 10, 2026