Call on the B.C. govt to protect upper Walbran old growth forests from logging

An injunction was just granted to arrest and remove forest protectors at a new old growth protection camp in the upper Walbran valley on Pacheedaht territory. Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones, who was a key figure in the Fairy Creek blockades, is leading this camp to do what the B.C. government has failed to do: stop logging in ancient forests.

The court hearing took place on September 11th – the same day the B.C. government committed to issuing emergency interim protection for 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old growth forests and catalyzing a wider paradigm shift in forestry within a 3 year timeline.

Yet today, nearly half of those forests remain unprotected, which we are seeing create conflict once again in places like the Walbran – home to ancient red cedars, Sitka spruce, white pine, and douglas fir trees. This divisive moment is a reflection of the B.C. government's failure to provide meaningful financing to support Indigenous-led conservation solutions and a transition for impacted communities, which First Nations have long been calling for. Instead of giving away millions each year in handouts to big logging corporations, it’s long past time for the government to repay what's owed to Nations so that Indigenous communities can choose forest protection as a viable economic pathway.

This moment has also put the B.C. government’s broken promises back in the spotlight. It’s time to remind decision-makers of the commitments they made to end these breathtakingly destructive logging practices and protect the last remaining ancient forests for once and for all.

Flood Premier Eby, Forests Minister Parmar and other decision-makers’ inboxes to let them know we’re watching what happens in the Walbran.

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We’ve included an email draft below, but it’s always more powerful and considered with higher regard by the B.C. government when it’s uniquely written in your own words.

Premier

David

Eby

BC NDP

Minister

Ravi

Parmar

BC NDP

Minister

Randene

Neill

BC NDP

Dear David Eby, Minister Neill, and Minister Parmar,

I’m writing to you out of concern and frustration about what is happening in the Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island.

It has been five years since the B.C. government committed to implementing the Old Growth Strategic Review panel recommendations, including issuing emergency interim protection for 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old growth forests and catalyzing a wider paradigm shift in forestry within a 3 year timeline. Yet today, nearly half of these forests remain unprotected, which we are seeing in places like the upper Walbran, where there is a newly erected forest protection camp.

It is appalling that four years after Canada’s greatest act of civil disobedience at Fairy Creek, Elder Bill Jones and his allies are back on logging roads doing what the government has failed to do: stop old growth logging in ancient forests. And now that an injunction has been granted, forest protectors are once again at risk of arrest.

This divisive moment didn’t need to happen. It’s a reflection of the B.C. government's failure to provide meaningful financing to support Indigenous-led conservation solutions and a transition for impacted communities, which many First Nations have been calling for.

I’m calling on you to take action to redirect subsidies away from big logging companies and towards Indigenous communities, so that they have the ability to choose forest protection as a viable economic pathway.

Premier Eby and Ministers, it’s time to fulfill your promises and stop destructive old growth logging once and for all.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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