Tell decision makers to act on old growth

Despite overwhelming public support for old growth forest protection and a clear roadmap based on science, the majority of at-risk old growth forests in B.C. are still open to logging.

The B.C. government has identified 2.6 million hectares of old growth at high risk of irreversible loss that should be off limits to logging, but so far the province hasn't taken action to implement logging deferrals in these areas. It also hasn’t given concrete funding support to Indigenous Nations, so that they can make old growth protection a viable economic option. In the meantime, 1000 year-old trees are still falling.

The B.C. government has started to self-congratulate its “progress” on old growth, but an 'intention' to act is not the same as real action. That’s why we’re renewing pressure on key decision makers who have influence over this file:

Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations Katrine Conroy
Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Roly Russell
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman.

Send a personalized email to these ministers to show the B.C. government there is no excuse: they must immediately implement logging deferrals in all at-risk old growth forests in B.C. and respect Indigenous rights.

Email key decision makers now

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Minister

Bruce

Ralston

B.C. NDP

The Honourable

George

Heyman

BC NDP

Mr.

Roly

Russell

B.C. NDP

Minister

Murray

Rankin

B.C. NDP

Dear minister,

I’m a resident of B.C. and I am deeply concerned about government delays in protecting old growth. While it's encouraging to see the government signal an intention to stop logging in 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old growth forest, intentions are not the same as action – and we desperately need action now.

With the release of the findings of the Technical Advisory Panel, the province has been given a very clear roadmap for protecting old growth forests, and you have every tool to move forward on securing these protections right now. At this point, delays in implementing deferrals are unacceptable.

Logging deferrals were always intended to be a first step in a much larger paradigm shift for forest management in this province. Your government agreed to all 14 recommendations of an independent Old Growth Strategic Review last year, which included implementing logging deferrals within 6 months to ensure larger negotiations and decisions about old growth could be made without permanent loss to these forests. 18 months after that recommendation was made, you have failed to deliver even the first step of implementing necessary deferrals in old growth forests at “imminent risk of irreversible biodiversity loss.”

At the beginning of December 2021, your lack of progress was met by a press conference with clear directives from the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, alongside First Nations leaders and Dr. Rachel Holt, Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel member. This is the opening paragraph to their press release: “The provincial government ‘is being called on to’ take faster action to protect threatened old-growth forests and commit the resources necessary to support First Nations through this process with immediate deferrals. Following the government’s announcement of its intention to defer 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old-growth forests, they gave a 30-day deadline upon First Nations to decide on logging deferrals, while themselves taking more than 18 months to reach this point. As this arbitrary and rushed deadline draws to a close, First Nation leaders and experts are criticizing both the process itself and the lack of progress on the ground.”

Considering the recent climate emergency, Chief James Hobart from Spuzzum First Nation said: “What we’ve seen in the past few weeks with torrential downpour reinforces the need for fully resourced, immediate deferrals – if our elder trees get logged, we stand to have even more landslides with the onset of climate change. Last week our community was entirely cut off from any food, water, or medical supplies. I am demanding that the Horgan government ensure that our stands of old growth are protected as part of the emergency response that must be taken.”

Stand.earth delivered a petition at the B.C. Legislature at the beginning of August with 150,000+ signatures, which has since grown by 25,000 signatures. More broadly, Sierra Club’s polling indicated that over 85% of people living in British Columbia support immediate action to protect at-risk old growth forests.

I find it egregious that the B.C. government is advertising its “progress” when First Nations leaders, scientists and civil society are still waiting for meaningful action on old growth. Considering your position within the B.C. government, I implore you to listen to the most recent demands broadcast by the UBCIC and bring those to the table with your colleagues to take immediate action: https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/first_nations_and_tap_member_demand_faster_action_and_adequate_resources_to_protect_old_growth_forests

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