The carbon at stake
Coastal old growth stores more carbon per hectare than any other forest in Canada, and logging releases most of it. The roughly 1,808 hectares of mapped old growth inside the blocks proposed for logging across the seven areas hold an estimated 3.31 to 8.62 million tonnes of CO2. Logging them would release an estimated 1.33 to 5.6 million tonnes of CO2, roughly the yearly emissions of 288,000 to 1,218,000 cars.
| Area | Old growth in proposed blocks (ha) | CO2 released if logged (Mt) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold River | 662 | 0.49 - 2.05 |
| Alberni Valley | 313 | 0.23 - 0.97 |
| Port Renfrew | 275 | 0.2 - 0.85 |
| Nitinat | 274 | 0.2 - 0.85 |
| Campbell River | 252 | 0.18 - 0.78 |
| Lake Cowichan | 32 | 0.02 - 0.1 |
This is a screening estimate, not a measurement, and the ranges are wide on purpose. It multiplies the mapped old-growth hectares inside proposed blocks by published carbon densities for coastal old growth (about 500 to 1,300 tonnes carbon per hectare) and a 40 to 65 percent release fraction on logging, then converts to CO2. Site-specific carbon is not measured here. The car comparison uses about 4.6 tonnes CO2 per car per year. See the full-cost model for the Port Renfrew carbon detail.