Police Intervention Ends Months-Long Forestry Protest
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers have successfully cleared a long-standing protest camp on Vancouver Island, marking a significant development in the ongoing dispute over old-growth logging in the region. The enforcement action occurred on November 27, 2025, bringing an end to the blockade that had halted forestry operations in the area for several months.
Fairy Creek Area at Center of Environmental Dispute
The protest camp was located in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C., a region known for its ancient forests and environmental significance. Activists had established the camp to prevent logging companies from accessing and harvesting old-growth trees in the sensitive ecosystem.
According to authorities, the clearance operation was conducted methodically and resulted in the removal of all temporary structures and barriers that protesters had erected. Police confirmed that the area has now been secured and that forestry companies can resume their authorized activities in the region immediately.
Background of the Conservation Conflict
The Fairy Creek watershed has been the focal point of intense environmental activism since 2021, when similar protests gained national attention. Conservation groups argue that the remaining old-growth forests on Vancouver Island represent irreplaceable ecosystems that require permanent protection from industrial logging.
The recent protest camp had been operational for several weeks before the police intervention. Forestry companies had obtained legal authorization to conduct harvesting operations in specific areas, but protesters had physically blocked access roads and established campsites to prevent equipment from reaching the work sites.
Environmental organizations have expressed disappointment with the police action, while industry representatives have welcomed the resumption of lawful forestry operations. The BC government continues to face pressure from both sides to develop a comprehensive old-growth management strategy that balances economic interests with environmental conservation.
With the camp now cleared and forestry activities set to resume, authorities are monitoring the situation to ensure there are no further disruptions to authorized operations in the region.
