Broken Promises: Over 2 million hectares of at-risk old growth remains open to logging in B.C.

More than 70 days since the B.C. government confirmed its commitment to stop logging in newly mapped at-risk old growth forests, logging continues in areas at risk of irreversible biodiversity loss as provincial decision-makers delay concrete action.

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC) — More than 70 days since the B.C. government confirmed its commitment to stop logging in newly mapped at-risk old growth forests, logging continues in areas at risk of irreversible biodiversity loss as provincial decision-makers delay concrete action.

In November 2021, the B.C. government publicly acknowledged that at least 2.6 million hectares of old growth forests are in need of urgent logging deferrals. Stand.earth applauds the work of the old growth technical advisory panel, which lays a vital roadmap for priority action to protect at-risk old growth forests and a paradigm-shift for forest management in B.C. But the risk remains, and more needs to be done. 

“Temporary logging deferrals have always been a first step to prevent irreversible loss of old growth forests while the much bigger work is done to overhaul forest management in this province,” said Tegan Hansen, Forest Campaigner at Stand.earth. “Instead, the B.C. NDP government is delaying action and leaving the most vulnerable forests open to logging. It is incredibly frustrating to watch this government drag its feet again and again, while communities face the very real impacts of losing the last old growth forests forever.”

While the provincial government continues to talk about old growth, it falls short on actual commitments that ensure deferrals are implemented to scale across the province in support of long-term protection. Mapping from the Wilderness Committee found that while the provincial government delays implementing deferrals, logging companies continue to target the most at-risk ecosystems and log thousands of hectares of remaining old growth forests. Despite the government’s best efforts to obscure its lack of progress on the issue, it remains top of mind for many people throughout B.C., as forest defenders are taking to the streets in an effort to ensure the provincial government keeps its promises.

Protection for old growth forests has overwhelming public support in British Columbia. A poll found over 85 per cent of people across the province support an end to old growth logging, and recent calls by Indigenous leaders have increased pressure to protect Elder Trees. The ongoing Indigenous-led land defense at Ada’itsx (Fairy Creek) has seen over 1,000 people arrested while defending old growth forests, making it the largest act of civil disobedience in Canada’s history. Meanwhile, forest defense continues in other areas of the province, including the Old Growth Revylution blockade in the Inland Temperate Rainforest.

Stand.earth is calling for the immediate implementation of logging deferrals across all priority areas identified by the old growth technical advisory panel, including areas where forest defenders continue to risk their safety at blockades, as well as concrete funding for the promised paradigm-shift for forestry that maintains and restores vital ecological values, fully upholds Indigenous sovereignty and rights, and supports forest communities.

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Media contacts: 

Ziona Eyob, Media Director – Canada, canadamedia@stand.earth, +1 604 757 7279 (Pacific Time)