Three-quarters of at-risk old-growth forests in BC still without logging deferrals

/in /by

 

Environmental groups and First Nations give provincial government poor grades as old-growth logging continues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

March 10, 20212

VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) — In the 18 months since the BC government promised to implement the recommendations of the Old-Growth Strategic Review (OGSR) panel, only 24 percent of the most at-risk old-growth forests have been deferred from logging.

The findings are part of an assessment by the Ancient Forest Alliance, Sierra Club BC, and Wilderness Committee, who today issued a report card grading the BC government’s progress on implementing the recommendations of the OGSR panel. This is the third report card issued since the panel’s recommendations were released on September 11, 2020, and falls at the halfway point of the three-year framework the panel laid out.

The OGSR panel’s recommendations included taking immediate action to protect at-risk old-growth forests and a paradigm shift away from a focus on timber value and towards safeguarding biodiversity and the ecological integrity of all forests in B.C.

See the full version of the report card here.

“The BC government has taken some small, slow actions, but has not delivered the fundamental change it promised in the wake of the old-growth panel’s report and in the last provincial election,” said Torrance Coste, national campaign director for the Wilderness Committee. “Premier John Horgan has set some nice intentions for old-growth forests, but done very little to actually limit logging of the most endangered stands – this is more talk-and-log, not the beginning of a paradigm shift.”

Using the limited publicly available data around confirmed old-growth deferrals and logging, the three organizations have calculated that in the 18 months since the BC government committed to these recommendations, approximately 624,000 hectares or 24 percent of the 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk old-growth has been confirmed for deferral or a pause on logging.

The past year has seen the establishment of a Technical Advisory Panel to provide expert guidance around old-growth deferrals and the announcement of the government’s intention to defer logging in 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk old-growth in November 2021. For the first time, the government has adopted a scientific assessment of the state of old-growth forests in BC, with a priority on protecting the biggest and oldest trees. But the various announcements and new processes haven’t resulted in substantial on-the-ground protection for threatened forests.

The government’s approach has been criticized by environmentalists and Indigenous leaders as putting unfair pressure on First Nations without providing adequate resources and support.

“The BC NDP government has neglected its responsibility to take swift action and despite all the words and promises, chainsaws continue to roar and threatened old-growth forests across BC remain without protection,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “Premier John Horgan promised permanent protection of old-growth forests, but without providing a clear plan and adequate resources his government has put First Nations in an impossible position – moving slowly is no longer an option if we’re serious about leaving old-growth for our children and grandchildren.”

Last year, the province made some funding commitments to help First Nations review deferral options and support forestry workers impacted by deferrals. Budget 2022 included $185 million to help workers and communities and enable deferrals. This funding commitment is a significant step but not enough to enable both short-term deferrals and lasting Indigenous-led conservation solutions. The federal government has pledged $2.3 billion to achieve the protection of 30 percent of Canada’s landmass by 2030 but the BC government has yet to embrace this target and use this opportunity to secure a significant portion of these federal funds to support old-growth protection.

“The BC government has taken a step in the right direction in funding for old-growth,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “However, they’ve fallen short on the amount needed to relieve the economic pressure faced by First Nations so that logging deferrals can become an economically viable option. This funding shortfall makes enacting the full suite of old-growth logging deferrals virtually impossible to achieve. BC also has a golden opportunity to obtain hundreds of millions in federal funding to support the creation of new Indigenous Protected Areas. It’s high time they embraced this.”

Of the 2.6 million hectares recommended for deferral in November 2021, the province hasn’t provided consistent updates on how much has been deferred to date.

“We are halfway through the timeline laid out in the old-growth recommendations Premier John Horgan promised to implement, but only a small amount of the most at-risk forest in BC is temporarily off the chopping block and there is still no path to permanent protection,” said Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner with Sierra Club BC. “With every day of delay, irreplaceable ancient forests, the web of life that depends on them and our last defense against the climate crisis are clearcut. We must stop the bleeding now.“

Ancient Forest Alliance, Sierra Club BC, and Wilderness Committee are calling on the BC government to: immediately defer logging in all at-risk old-growth forests while compensating for any lost revenue for First Nations, increase funding to support deferrals, economic transition, and permanent protection to at least $300 million, implement legislation to protect biodiversity across BC, establish a plan with milestones consistent with the OGSR framework and regularly publish accurate and detailed progress updates on the deferral process.

-30-

Download a PDF of the full report card here

Download a JPEG version of the full report card here

TJ Watt featured in A Photo Editor

/in /by

AFA’s TJ Watt recently sat down for a chat with Creative Director Heidi Volpe at A Photo Editor. 

Read on to find out about how he got into conservation photography, the founding of AFA, the affection he has for Big Lonely Doug, and the impact his photos have on shaping the way people view forests and logging in British Columbia. 

 

Funding for Old-Growth Arrives in BC Budget, Falls Short of What’s Needed

/in /by

 

For immediate release
February 22, 2022

Conservationists argue more support is necessary for First Nations communities to ensure most at-risk ancient forests can remain standing.

VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – The BC government appears to have improved upon funding commitments for old-growth forests in Budget 2022, but still has fallen short of providing the amount necessary to fully protect endangered ancient forests in BC. $185 million has been budgeted for old-growth, which includes funding for workers, industry, communities, and First Nations. Depending on how funding is allocated, this announcement potentially contains up to one-third of the contribution needed from the province to support First Nations communities, whose consent is needed to implement old-growth logging deferrals.

Conservationists have repeatedly called for the province to commit at least $300 million to support Indigenous-led old-growth logging deferrals, land-use plans, and protected areas alone.
 
This would include funding for Indigenous Guardians programs, offsetting the lost revenues for logging deferrals, and support for the sustainable economic diversification of First Nations communities in lieu of old-growth logging and linked to the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas. Support for forestry workers and contractors, and legally defined compensation for major licensees, would be above and beyond this total.

Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner & photographer TJ Watt stands beside a giant old-growth cedar stump in the Caycuse Valley in Ditidaht territory.

“Today the BC government took a first step in the right direction in funding for old-growth,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “However, they still fell short on the funding needed to relieve the economic pressure faced by First Nations so that logging deferrals can become an economically viable option for them. This funding shortfall makes enacting the full suite of old-growth logging deferrals virtually impossible to achieve.”
 
The BC government has committed to implementing all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. In its list of recommendations, the review panel directed the province to act quickly to defer (temporarily halt) the logging of old-growth forests at high risk of biodiversity loss. The BC government later accepted, in principle, the recommendation to defer 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk ancient forests by an independent science panel, focusing on the largest and oldest trees remaining in BC. Months later, 570,000 hectares have been deferred on lands managed by BC Timber Sales, and an additional smaller fraction has been set aside by First Nations, while some forests identified for deferral continue to be logged.
 
Federal funding is available to support environmental protection in BC. $2.3 billion was committed last year to help Canada achieve its international commitments to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030. Of this, several hundred million dollars are available for the expansion of protected areas in BC, with $50 million specifically allocated to BC old-growth so far. An additional $631 million is earmarked for “Nature Smart Climate Solutions” with $200 million already allocated for the protection of carbon-rich ecosystems such as BC’s old-growth forests.

Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner & photographer TJ Watt stands beside a giant old-growth cedar tree in a forest recommended for deferral near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory. 

“It’s time that the BC government embraced the significant funding available from the federal government to help support land conservation initiatives in BC, including for old-growth forests,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Ian Illuminato. “This is a golden opportunity to obtain hundreds of millions in funding from the federal government to support the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and support the permanent protection of old-growth forests. Why are they waiting?”
 
Last week, 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities urged the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests. Their letter requested that the BC government swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals. Citizens across BC have recently made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of letters calling for increased funding for old-growth protection as well.

Municipal leaders in BC call on provincial government to commit funding for old-growth protection in Budget 2022

/in /by

VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – A letter signed by 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities is urging the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests, including by allocating significant funding in the upcoming provincial budget, set to be released February 22nd. Read the letter here.

Metchosin councillor and forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon beside Big Lonely Doug, Canada’s second-largest Douglas-fir tree, found near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

The letter is addressed and sent to seven provincial decision-makers, including Premier Horgan, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy, and Environment Minister George Heyman, and is signed by mayors, councillors, and regional district directors from diverse communities including Comox, Nanaimo, Powell River, Saanich, Victoria, Vancouver, Nelson, and Tahsis. In it, the elected leaders commend the province for taking the first important steps towards protecting old-growth forests and express their concern with the insufficient amount of funding committed so far to ensure success.

“Imagine asking California to turn their iconic Ancient Redwoods into roof shingles – you’d get laughed out of the room,” said Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov, one of the letter’s co-authors. “That’s how we treat the last remnants of old-growth forests we have left. This budget cycle, the province needs to put their money where their mouth is and commit significant funding to finally make good on their promise to protect our world-class old-growth assets,” Vagramov continued. “It’s time we log elsewhere; the vast majority of BC is now second-growth forest.”

The letter urges the BC government to swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals in 2.6 million hectares of at-risk ancient forests.

The fund, they argue, is also crucial to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests by supporting Indigenous-led land-use planning, the creation and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), and the development of sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging.

“Communities need sufficient funding and support to transition away from old-growth logging while ensuring economic prosperity through more sustainable means,” stated Ben Geselbracht, Nanaimo city councillor and co-author of the letter. “Without critical funding to support economic alternatives and transitions, the current path will lead to the collapse of old-growth ecosystems and the economies of many communities.”

Tahsis Mayor Martin Davis next to a giant old-growth Douglas-fir tree growing unprotected near town in Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory.

The provincial government has so far offered limited funding, including $12.6 million for capacity building support for First Nations to engage in the initial logging deferrals process, and $19 million to help forestry workers impacted by the deferrals. The municipal leaders acknowledge these are important first steps, but they are inadequate to provide the kind of support communities need to protect at-risk old-growth while diversifying their economies.

“Indigenous Protected Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests can play a significant role in supporting community wellbeing and economic diversification,” said Andy MacKinnon, a forest ecologist and Councillor for the District of Metchosin. “But their creation and management require investment. The federal government has come to the table with hundreds of millions of dollars that can be used to help solve BC’s old-growth crisis, but where is the province?”

Last year, the federal government pledged $2.3 billion to help Canada achieve its international commitments to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025. Of this, several hundred million dollars are available for the expansion of protected areas in BC, with $50 million specifically allocated to BC old-growth so far. An additional $631 million was committed for “Nature Smart Climate Solutions” with $200 million already allocated for the protection of carbon-rich ecosystems such as BC’s old-growth forests.

Metchosin councillor and forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon measures a giant old-growth Douglas-fir tree on Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

The municipal leaders’ letter urges the BC government to adopt Canada’s goals of protecting 25% of lands and waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030 and to act quickly to implement all the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review panel, including developing overarching biodiversity protection legislation, setting new, science-based old-growth protection targets for all old-growth forest ecosystems, and implementing an ecosystem-based approach to forest management.

“Ancient forests are in peril across the province,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “Municipal leaders and their constituents are advocating for lasting solutions that support local economies and these irreplaceable ecosystems. The BC government needs to fund old-growth protection and economic diversification in Budget 2022.”

-30 –

Photos: White River Provincial Park

/in /by


Nicknamed “The Cathedral Grove of the North Island”, White River Provincial Park is a protected old-growth jewel on Vancouver Island.

After over a century of relentless logging, old-growth Douglas-fir stands like this one have become exceedingly rare in British Columbia. However, in a strange twist of fate, this ancient forest still stands thanks, in part, to three loggers who refused to fell the trees here in the 1990’s.

If you’re looking for an adventure, make this slice of old-growth heaven a must-see and be sure to support the local businesses in town.

1,000-year-old Douglas-firs tower above the forest floor in this protected old-growth forest on Vancouver Island.

Show your love for ancient forests this Valentine’s Day

/in /by

Looking for a sustainable gift idea this Valentine’s Day? Why not show your love for ancient forests AND those close to you by dedicating a donation to the AFA in honour of a loved one. Click here to visit our donation page, select ‘yes’ under Dedicate, write your personalized message, and voila! your Valentine’s Day gift will go towards protecting ancient forests. Please note: If you wish for your message to be received by Valentine’s Day, choose the email option.  Thank you for your generous support!

Conservationists Applaud Tourism Industry Association of BC for Joining the Call to Protect Old-Growth Forests

/in /by

VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are celebrating that the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) has joined the call on the BC government to protect endangered old-growth forests and enable the shift to a sustainable, second-growth forest industry.

In December, TIABC signed an AFA resolution that acknowledges the significant economic benefits standing old-growth forests provide, including for BC’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry, and urges the province to support Indigenous communities to defer and permanently protect old-growth forests, which are central to many First Nations’ cultures, while supporting sustainable economic development.

 Click here to read the resolution.

Tourists visit the giant trees of Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, BC in Pacheedaht territory. ‘Big Tree Tourism’ has seen a dramatic rise in the town over the past decade, giving the local economy a major economic boost. Photograph by TJ Watt.

“Old-growth forests are vital to British Columbia’s ‘super, natural’ image and are part of what makes BC an increasingly popular destination for tourists from near and far,” said Walt Judas, TIABC CEO. “Our tourism and broader economy depend on healthy, functioning old-growth forests to provide things like climate stability, wildlife habitat, and clean water and to support myriad tourism and recreational activities like wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, and more.”

“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 travel restrictions in the last two years, domestic tourism has thrived, with British Columbians increasingly flocking to BC’s parks, outdoor spaces, and nearby rural communities. Continuing to log old-growth forests would further compromise the over $23 billion in average annual tourism spending that many thousands of people rely on in the province.”

“We applaud TIABC’s decision to speak up for old-growth forest protection,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness. “The tourism sector won’t stand by while BC continues to destroy its globally rare forests and, with them, sustainable tourism jobs. By passing this resolution, TIABC joins a growing chorus of voices across BC, calling on the province to step up its efforts to protect old-growth while supporting communities’ economic wellbeing. 

A hiker takes photos of a giant redcedar in the lower Avatar Grove.
Avatar Grove, Port Renfrew BC.

TIABC is the primary advocate for BC’s tourism industry, one of the province’s top business sectors, and represents most of the province’s 19,000 tourism businesses and nearly 300,000 employees. Nature-based tourism is one of the top three drivers of BC’s tourism and rural economy, supporting 26,000 direct full-time jobs and some 40,000 jobs in total.

TIABC joins the Wilderness Tourism Association, over 100 BC businesses, mayors and city councils (Union of BC Municipalities and Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities), First Nations (Union of BC Indian Chiefs), unions (the Public and Private Workers of Canada forestry union) and conservation groups across BC who have called on the provincial government to increase protection for BC’s endangered old-growth forests.

Communities across the province stand to benefit from protecting ancient forests. An economic analysis commissioned by the Ancient Forest Alliance in 2021 showed that keeping old-growth forests standing can provide greater overall economic benefits than cutting them down when factoring in their value in supporting tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, commercial fisheries, education and research, and non-timber forest products (e.g. mushrooms and salal).

The BC government has promised to take significant steps to protect old-growth forests and overhaul BC’s forest sector by implementing all the recommendations in the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel’s 2020 report. As a first step, in November, the province announced its intent to defer logging in 2.6M ha of the most at-risk old-growth forests across the province. However, conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance are deeply concerned by the lack of provincial funding to support Indigenous-led old-growth protection.

“The province has acknowledged the biodiversity crisis that’s resulted from decades of unsustainable forestry and has promised to act, but endangered ancient forests are still being logged every day,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer, TJ Watt.

TJ Watt of the Ancient Forest Alliance stands beside a giant redcedar tree in the unprotected Eden Grove near Port Renfrew, BC in Pacheedaht territory. This forest is growing in popularity but its future remains uncertain. Photograph by TJ Watt.

“Protecting old-growth forests is vital to support healthy, safe, and prosperous communities. Without provincial support and significant funding, First Nations and forest-based communities are losing opportunities to protect old-growth forests and diversify their economies through nature-based cultural and eco-tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, sustainable second-growth logging and manufacturing, and more.”

The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC government to commit several hundred million dollars in conservation financing in the upcoming provincial budget to support logging deferrals, Indigenous-led land-use planning and sustainable economic development, Guardians programs, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests.

Thank you to our generous business supporters!

/in /by

The AFA would like to extend a massive thank you to the following businesses, groups, and individuals for generously supporting the AFA and our campaign to protect old-growth forests:

Friends of Leckie Studio & Backcountry Hut Company for their generous contributions

Integral Ecology Group for donating for their third year in a row through the 1% for the Planet program

Exige International & Chicadee Designs for their generous gifts

RDH Building Science Inc. for including the AFA among their top organizations to support

Bokashi Living for their support and passion for old-growth forests

Artist Ed Hughes for donating partial proceeds from sales of the painting, “Save our trees please”. Visit https://www.instagram.com/eghughesart/ to learn more about the painting and purchase details.

Our work would not be possible without the generosity of these and all of our AFA supporters. Thank you so much!

Goodbye to AFA’s Forest Campaigner, Andrea Inness.

/in /by


The Ancient Forest Alliance team wishes to thank Andrea Inness, who will be departing in early February after devoting five years as a Forest Campaigner with the AFA, including three and a half years on the Executive Team. With her strong work ethic, intelligence, advanced logistical skills, and sense of responsibility, Andrea helped lead the Ancient Forest Alliance to numerous campaign and organizational successes over these years.

Andrea Inness, Forest Campaigner for the AFA, 2017 – 2022.

Andrea was prolific in her work liaising with organizations, stakeholders, allies, and government, writing, speaking, researching, exploring old-growth forests, and working behind the scenes with internal organization management. Her professional skills, experience, and dedication helped pressure the provincial government to start moving towards comprehensive, meaningful protection for ancient forests in BC.

“I’m very proud of the work AFA has accomplished with the help of our many caring, passionate supporters. There is hope for the future of old-growth forests because we have refused to give up and have continued to expand and strengthen the ancient forest movement,” stated Andrea. “I’m grateful for my time at the AFA, for the opportunity to help protect the magnificent old-growth forests in BC, and for the people I’ve had the privilege of working with along the way.”

Andrea in the Nahmint Valley, 2018.

“I feel confident leaving AFA at this point in time. The campaign has entered a new chapter, with the province now listening to the best available science and committing to major policy changes. The organization is in good hands with both new staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table, and long-term and dedicated staff,” she concluded.

We are grateful to Andrea for all she has done for the AFA and the campaign to protect old-growth forests. We wish her every success in her next exciting chapter.

Andrea under a bracket fungus in the San Juan River Valley, 2018.