Quadra Landscape Unit

In the 2001 Vancouver Island Land Use Plan (still in legal effect), much of Quadra Island was identified as as a “Special Management Zone,” which implied a less intense level of logging would occur. The details were to be included in landscape level planning. Undertaking that planning was established as a “high priority” by VILUP and was to take place within 3 years. That planning never happened.

That has not prevented other agencies from referencing this non-existent plan. In 2022, the Forest Practices Board explained in an investigation report that old forest on Quadra Island is managed under the terms of the Quadra Landcape Unit.

The lack of such planning has had the effect of reducing biodiversity protection on Quadra Island. For example, the island has no designated Old Growth Management Areas or Wildlife Habitat Areas. The lack of landscape-level planning has allowed forest tenure holders on Quadra to avoid committing to practical provisions for protection of species-at-risk in their forest stewardship plans.

Instead of being subject to the higher levels of protection intended under Special Management Zone 19, Quadra Island is being logged as though it were an ordinary resource management zone.

The ministry's mapping of the non-existent Quadra Landscape Unit is below.