150,000 + people demand B.C. stop old growth logging

Lekwungen Territories (Victoria, BC) —  Old growth forest advocates will deliver a petition at 11 AM PT on Monday, August 9 at the B.C. Legislature buildings. The petition contains the signatures of over 150,000 people calling on the B.C. government to keep its election promise to immediately stop logging at-risk old growth forests. The petition will be received by Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Green Party, and Green Party MLA Adam Olsen, as well as delivered by email to all B.C. MLAs. 

“The B.C. government committed during the last election to implement all 14 recommendations from the old growth review panel, and ban logging for the most at-risk old growth forests immediately. But they still haven’t followed through, leaving the majority of these forests on the chopping block,” reads the petition, “These ancient forests need our protection, before there’s nothing left.”

The petition underscores overwhelming public support for protecting old growth forests. Results of a survey by Sierra Club BC and Insights West released in June indicated 85% of British Columbians want the B.C. NDP to keep its election promise to defer logging in at-risk old growth forests and implement the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel.

The Old Growth Strategic Panel submitted its report and recommendations to the provincial government on April 30, 2020. The 14 recommendations included specific timelines for immediate steps like full Indigenous involvement and reducing threats to forests, including a 6-month deadline to immediately stop logging remaining rare and at-risk old growth forests. Over a year later, the vast majority of these old growth forests remain open to logging.

“This government was elected on a promise to protect old growth forests and we’re reminding them the people haven’t forgotten,” said Tegan Hansen, Forest Campaigner at Stand.earth. “The majority of people in this province support a halt on old growth logging. The eyes of the world are now on B.C., wondering when this government will keep its promise and adhere to common sense to stop the destruction.”

A new technical panel on old growth has recently been appointed to identify forests in B.C. requiring immediate logging deferrals, and includes leading scientists whose work has informed recommendations on old growth. More recently, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) passed a resolution endorsing the Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration, calling for an immediate halt to old growth logging and for the province to meaningfully engage First Nations to protect old growth forests.

The petition delivery comes the same day as a celebration to mark the one year anniversary of the Fairy Creek Blockades. The event will be held at the Legislature on Monday, August 9, beginning with a march from the courthouse at 2 PM. The celebration includes ceremony, speeches from Indigenous leaders and land defenders, performances, testimony from the frontlines and more. A full itinerary is posted online here. 

Stand.earth urges the provincial government to act decisively to respect calls from citizens, Land Defenders, the recent UBCIC declaration, as well as the clear science, and immediately halt logging in remaining at-risk old growth forests.

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Media contacts: 

Ziona Eyob
Canadian Communications Manager, Stand.earth
c: +1 604 757 7279
ziona@stand.earth

Heather Leary
P: 250-385-2285
C: 250-812-9159
hleary@shaw.ca