Old growth forests in BC are being systematically eliminated through industrial forestry and bad government policy. A new independent scientific report states that less than 3 percent of the province is productive old growth forest. Most of the productive old growth in BC has been logged.
Present government policy is allowing for the destruction of what little old growth forest remains in British Columbia – if this continues, old growth forests and the species that depend upon them will disappear. Across British Columbia, we are still logging these rare forests that exist nowhere else on Earth.
In January, we asked you to take action to protect old growth as part of the province's consultation period on old growth management. Your voices have been heard loud and clear. But the provincial government has yet to take real action and has yet to make the old growth panels report public.
Please take a few minutes and let the province know that they must immediately release the old growth panels’ report on old growth management and protect BC’s remaining old growth forest from logging and industrial activity entirely.
Photo: Patrice Halley
Some points to consider to write your message:
- The province must make the old growth panels report public.
- Less than 3 percent of the province is productive old growth forest. Most of the productive old growth in BC has been logged. It’s time to stop pretending we’re “balancing” economic or other interests while we cut down what little old growth we have left.
- The province must stop the loss of our old growth by protecting it from logging and industrial activity entirely. Designated protections for specific areas of old growth are the strongest way to make sure it doesn’t end up logged, while legally-binding land use plans, provincial parks, and changes to forest practices can also help.