Protecting old-growth forests, storing carbon, and supporting Indigenous-led conservation in coastal BC.
The BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative, managed by Mosaic Forest Management, is a large-scale forest carbon project located along the coastal region of British Columbia, Canada. Spanning approximately 40,000 hectares of private forestland, the initiative defers commercial logging for a minimum of 25 years. This strategy safeguards old-growth forests, enhances long-term carbon storage, and avoids greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be released through timber harvesting.
As a registered Improved Forest Management (IFM) project under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) (Project ID 3018), the BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative meets rigorous global benchmarks for validation, verification, and ongoing monitoring.
Forest Protection Meets Climate Action
Using the VCS methodology VM0012: Improved Forest Management in Temperate and Boreal Forests, the project transforms previously harvested lands into protected forest areas. Through sustainable forest management and harvesting deferral, the initiative:
- Increases carbon sequestration
- Avoids emissions from logging activities
- Enhances ecological resilience in temperate coastal ecosystems
This transition not only contributes to climate change mitigation but also supports biodiversity and long-term environmental stewardship.
Supporting Salmon and Watersheds
A portion of the project’s carbon credit revenue is allocated to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, funding restoration efforts and scientific research to protect wild Pacific salmon and their habitats across British Columbia and the Yukon. Aquatic stewardship projects tied to the initiative aim to improve watershed health for salmon and other aquatic species.
The project also protects critical drinking watersheds and maintains ecosystem services that benefit both nature and surrounding communities.
Indigenous Leadership and Conservation
The BigCoast Forest Climate Initiative is deeply collaborative. It works closely with the Pacific Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA) Innovation Centre, supporting First Nations-led research, cultural preservation, and conservation science. Mosaic Forest Management, the project’s lead, holds Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Gold Certification, demonstrating a strong, ongoing commitment to respectful and impactful partnerships with Indigenous communities.
The project also protects vital habitats for species such as bears, elk, and orca whales, and preserves some of British Columbia’s oldest and most ecologically important forests.
