Mosaic Forest Management has launched a weekend pilot program near Sooke, British Columbia, opening 1,900 kilometres of forest roads to the public. the trial, which includes access to the Butler, Lens, and Muir Main gates, will run through the end of December.
Ending a 20-year closure of the Butler, Lens, and Muir Main gates
For more than two decades,large swaths of privately managed forest land near Sooke have remained inaccessible to the general public. As reported by the recent announcement from Mosaic Forest Management,the company is now testing a weekend access model that opens 1,900 kilometres of road and 42,000 hectares of land.
The pilot program specifically targets the Butler Main, Lens Main, and Muir Main gates, which have been locked to recreational users for over 20 years. Under the current rules, the public may access these areas from 6 a.m . to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays to ensure the trial remains within controlled hours.
The 6,700-person survey driving Mosaic's access experiment
This shift in land management follows a signfiicant push for greater backcountry access in British Columbia. According to the report, Mosaic conducted a public survey last year that drew approximately 6,700 respondents over a two-week period, indicating a strong desire for more opportunities to explore managed forest lands.
The Four Wheel Drive Association of B.C. has been a vocal proponent of this change. Colin Stuart, a spokesperson for the association, estimates that roughly 5,000 members of their community alone could utilize the newly accessible lands near Sooke . Stuart suggests that increased presence in the backcountry could actually benefit the company by fostering a more collaborative relationship between land managers and users.
Addressing Mosaic's concerns over wildfire and illegal dumping
Mosaic Forest Management is attempting to navigate the tension between public demand and environmental stewardship. ian Emery,the company's director of outdoor recreation and access, noted that the pilot is designed to test how the company can manage increased recreational use while mitigating specific risks.
Two primary concerns identified by Emery include the potential for increased wildfire activity and the issue of illegal dumping. However, the company is also exploring the "eyes on the ground" theory; Emery suggested that having more people in the backcountry might actually help identify and report unsafe conditions or illegal activities that would otherwise go unnoticed by forest staff .
Will the Sooke pilot reach Campbell River?
The success of the Sooke experiment could have significant implications for other regions on Vancouver Island. Mosaic is already looking at potential expansion areas, including locations around Campbell River, should the current pilot prove successful in balancing access with safety.
As the company prepares to assess the results in mid-December, several questions remain unanswered. It is still unclear how Mosaic will quantify "success"—whether through safety metrics, survey feedback, or environmental impact reports. furthermore, the company has not yet specified if the weekend-only restrictions would remain a permanent fixture if the program expands to other territories.
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