About 1.05 million hectares of forests at risk of more than irreversible loss will now be out of logging for at least two years, almost half of what was identified at high risk by a research team in November 2021. “We have made real progress,” Katrine Conroy, Secretary of Forestry, Land, Natural Resources and Rural Development, told a news conference on Friday. The announcement of new postponements, covering 619,000 hectares, is part of a process announced in September 2020. It was then that the province published a review of how old trees and the land around them should be better treated to protect it. biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change. An old cedar harvested in the Nahmint Valley outside Port Alberni BC (Chris Corday / CBC)
The Old Strategic Development Review (OGSR) made 14 recommendations, including immediate deferrals in some areas most at risk of biodiversity loss. funding to help deforestation-driven communities move away from the practice; and a more substantial commitment to the First Nations. The province has been criticized by stakeholders, such as protection groups and some First Nations, for taking slow and non-transparent action over the past 18 months. But on Friday there was optimism. “This gives me hope that we can see similar progress in the coming months to ensure that all the old growth in jeopardy can be set aside before logging takes place,” Jens Wieting told the Sierra Club BC On Friday, the province said deferrals have now been implemented for a total area of ​​1.7 million hectares of old development, which includes 1.05 million hectares in the most endangered areas. Garry Merkel, a retired forester and member of the Tahltan First Nation, co-authored the OGSR and attended Friday’s press conference. He was positive in his assessment of the postponements so far and the cooperation between government, nations, communities and logging companies. “I’m very happy right now,” he said. “I think this is a monumental project and we are making incredible progress compared to what I was worried we would do.” In any case, at least 3/4 of the remaining old development in BC. remain open to logging and that needs to change. We hope that this announcement signals the government’s intention to speed up the pace of action, but we need more information on that. #oldgrowth – @ TorranceCoste
However, the Wilderness Commission, an environmental group, says more than half of the areas identified as seriously endangered are still vulnerable. “Logging companies continue to target and cut down ecologically endangered old-growth forests throughout BC, despite deferrals that have been completed,” National Campaign Director Torrance Coste said in a statement. “Many of these irreplaceable forests can only be protected on one schedule – immediately.” Critics also said on Friday that the province should provide maps showing which areas have been protected and which have not. A graph created by the BC conservation team, the Wilderness Commission using provincial data to show the types of forests in BC. and levels of protection from logging. (Wildlife Committee)

commitment of the first nations

In the last five months the province said it had received responses from 188 of the 204 First Nations of BC. on deferrals of old development in their territories. “To date, 75 First Nations have agreed to postpone the harvest of dangerous old growth on their territory,” a statement from the province said. The province said seven nations have said they are opposed to any postponements, while 11 have no old development or commercial forestry in their territories. The First Five Nations have not yet responded. Carl Archie of the Canim Lake Band told the press conference that the Caribou had once preserved its people and their way of life in what is central the interior of BC, but the caribou have almost disappeared in a fall largely due to habitat loss from logging. TJ Watt, an Ancient Forest Alliance activist, looks at an old cedar in a grove destined for logging outside Lake Cowichan BC on Vancouver Island. (Chris Corday / CBC) “Where there used to be large herds of thousands as far as the eye could see, there are now about 100 animals hovering in Wells Gray Park.” The group is involved in the deferral process and has developed a forest management plan recently approved by the province, Archie said. “Our caribou are based on old forests for their very existence and it is our responsibility to bring them back.” Conroy also said $ 185 million in funding included in the February budget is being used to help workers and communities affected by deferrals, including short-term jobs for contractors, bridging older workers to retirement and retraining.