PROTECTED AREAS IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND

About one-third 110,281 hectares (272,972 acres) of the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve is made up of legally protected areas including Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, 16 provincial parks and two ecological reserves (see below). These form the Core Area of the Biosphere Reserve. Activities permitted here include hiking, camping, fishing and scientific research as well as First Nations traditional uses such as berry harvesting and cedar bark stripping.

The Buffer Zone of the Biosphere Reserve is 60 416 hectares (149 545 acres) in size. It includes the 2100 hectare Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area and all of the major unprotected watersheds in which little or no logging or other industrial activity has occurred. Resource extraction is permitted only under special management arrangements. These include the ecosystem-based forestry practices in Clayoquot Sound.

Just over one-half of the total area of the Biosphere Reserve—179 250 hectares (443 688 acres) - is the Transition Zone where sustainable economic development activities take place. All of the Biosphere Reserve communities are included in the transition zone. Activities include First Nations” traditional activities, logging, tourism, fishing, aquaculture (shellfish and finfish farms) and other commercial development.

MEARES ISLAND TRIBAL PARK
Meares Island is not included within the Biosphere Reserve. A 1985 court injunction still stands, prohibiting logging on the island pending the resolution of aboriginal title claims to the island. These issues are currently the subject of treaty negotiations among the federal and provincial governments and the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

BC PROVINCIAL PARKS IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND:

• Clayoquot Arm
• Clayoquot Plateau
• Dawley Passage
• Epper Passage
• Flores Island
• Gibson Marine
• Hesquiat Lake
• Hesquiat Peninsula
• Kennedy Lake
• Kennedy River Bog
• Maquinna Marine
• Strathcona - Megin/Talbot addition
• Sulphur Passage
• Sydney Inlet
• Tranquil Creek
• Vargas Island

ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND:

• Megin River Ecological Reserve
• Cleland Island Ecological Reserve

Clayoquot Sound is home to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Long Beach Unit), sixteen marine and terrestrial Provincial Parks and two Ecological Reserves.

Find out how your group can stay at the Clayoquot Field Station...