Posted: May 06, 2021 6:06 AM PT | Last Updated: May 6
North Cowichan resident Larry Pynn has discovered a growing number of sites where massive red cedar and Douglas fir trees have been cut down inside a municipal forest reserve. (Briar Stewart/CBC)
The municipality of North Cowichan, B.C., is stepping up patrols of the region s forest reserve, after an increase in timber theft in the area, which lies 70 kilometres north of Victoria on Vancouver Island.
Since January, approximately 100 trees, including Douglas fir and Western red cedars have been poached and local residents and officials believe the spike is likely tied to the surge in lumber prices.