Environmentalists, Green Party MLA, and prominent forest ecologist make holiday-themed appeal for provincial old-growth funding

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VICTORIA (Lekwungen Territories) – Pressure on the BC provincial government to back their old-growth forest protection commitments with funding is growing with First Nations leaders, scientists, and Green Party representatives joining environmentalists to demand significant funding for old-growth protection in the 2022 provincial budget.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA), along with Adam Olsen, Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands and Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist and Metchosin Councillor, held a press briefing on the steps of the BC Parliament Buildings on Tuesday to discuss the urgent need for significant provincial funding to both temporarily defer and permanently protect the province’s at-risk old-growth forests. 

Tying into the season of giving, the briefing featured gift-wrapped presents and signs reading “All we want for Christmas…is funding to protect old-growth forests!”

The briefing comes after the BC government announced its intention to work with First Nations to defer 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old-growth forests in early November, based on the recommendation of an independent scientific panel. Last week, the province announced that most First Nations that responded to requests for deferrals have expressed interest in discussions with the government on old-growth management, but the province is failing to back these discussions with funding to offset revenues from old-growth logging. 

Adam Olsen, Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands speaks on the steps of the BC Parliament Buildings addressing the need for funding for old-growth protection in BC.

“We are glad the province has finally moved to protect BC’s most at-risk forests, but as long as they continue to come to the negotiation table with First Nations virtually empty-handed, they won’t fully achieve it,” stated Adam Olsen. “Many Nations are dependent upon the revenues from logging in their territories, and the government is putting them in the impossible position of having to choose between old-growth protection and economic security. This does not advance conservation or reconciliation.” 

Despite logging continuing in at-risk old-growth forests identified for deferral, the BC government has yet to announce any significant new deferrals, which were recommended by the province’s Old Growth Strategic Review Panel to immediately halt the destruction of old-growth forests at high risk of biodiversity loss. $12.6 million has been allocated to support ongoing government-to-government deferral negotiations, but without greater financial support for compensation, many First Nations may be reluctant to support proposed deferrals. 

However, conservationists are quick to point out that funding for deferrals is only a first step and that significant funding, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, is also needed to support First Nations-led land-use planning, Indigenous protected areas that permanently conserve old-growth, and economic alternatives to old-growth logging.

Makwala Rande Cook, a Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw artist and Hereditary Ma’amtagila Chief, who was unable to join the press conference as anticipated, said “Old-growth forests have sustained our people for millennia. They provide critical ecosystem services that sustain the health and wellbeing of all British Columbians, but successive governments and industry have depleted them to near extinction. Indigenous communities need funding and support to protect and steward what little old-growth remains.” 

Federal funding has already been made available to support old-growth protection in BC. $2.3 billion was committed earlier this 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 has been 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. 

The Ancient Forest Alliance is urging the BC government to adopt Canada’s protected area targets and commit several hundred million dollars in conservation funding to match or exceed the federal government’s funding commitments in the upcoming spring budget.

Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance hold signs during the press conference on the steps of the BC Parliament Buildings

Last week, the province announced $19 million in funding to support workers and communities impacted by logging deferrals and promised additional supports in the new year. This is a welcome step in the right direction, but conservationists are pointing to BC’s recent extreme weather events as further justification for urgent conservation funding. 

“If the BC government is serious about community safety and addressing deadly climate change impacts like flooding, landslides, fires, and droughts, they must include funding in Budget 2022 to vastly expand protection of BC’s most carbon-rich and climate change resilient old-growth forests and to overhaul the forestry regime,” stated forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon. “They simply cannot afford not to.” 

“Making bold promises without the funds to deliver on them is a recipe for failure, leaving millions of hectares of at-risk ancient rainforests on the chopping block,” said AFA campaigner Andrea Inness. “Right now, the question is: will there be significant funding in Budget 2022 to implement deferrals and permanent old-growth protection? Or will BC’s remaining ancient rainforests receive a lump of coal?”

(L-R) Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist and Metchosin Councillor, Andrea Inness, Ancient Forest Alliance Campaigner, and Adam Olsen, Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands, stand on the steps of the BC Parliament Buildings.

Photos: Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail – Port Alice

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Located roughly 23 km from Port Alice along the shores of Victoria Lake and in the territory of the Quatsino First Nation, is Spruce Bay and the little-known Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail and Recreation Site.

Photo gallery: Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail

This easy 3.1 km loop passes through glade after glade of monumental old-growth Sitka spruce trees and winds through a second-growth stand that was logged in the 1960s. Massive spruce stumps dot the forest, a haunting memorial to a forest whose trees likely exceeded the largest Stika spruce trees growing today.

While Port Alice is promoting itself as the “sea otter capital of Canada”, this magnificent old-growth forest could be another major tourist draw, helping the community transition into an ecotourism destination.

Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail near Port Alice.

Photos: Vernon Bay

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This past summer, AFA had the privilege of exploring stunning ancient forests along the shores of Vernon Bay in Barkley Sound. Home to the Uchucklesaht and Tseshaht First Nations, TJ Watt and Ian Illuminato measured monumental redcedar trees up to 12 feet in diameter.

Photo gallery: Vernon Bay

Despite the area’s significance, the BC government has granted approval for the logging company, Interfor, to cut a total of 55 hectares of rare, intact ancient forests. However, due to the recent 2.6 million hectares of potential old-growth deferrals announced by the province, some stands have been identified for immediate deferrals.

These forests are now at imminent risk of being logged unless the local First Nations and the province immediately enact these deferrals. Speak up now! Demand the BC government commit conservation funding to support Indigenous-led protection of at-risk old-growth by sending a message.

See our media release for further details.

Overlooking the unprotected ancient forests of Vernon Bay in Barkley Sound in Uchucklesaht and Tseshaht nation territories. 33 logging cutblocks have been approved in this region, some overlapping with the newly recommended deferral areas.

Planning to give AFA gifts this holiday season? Order soon!

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Friendly reminder, if you’re planning on ordering AFA gifts this holiday season, please place your order by the following deadlines to increase your likelihood of receiving your gifts before Christmas Day (*for orders in Canada only):

For our brand NEW custom digital certificates:
Place your orders until Dec. 20th.

For printed & mailed certificates:
Place your orders by Dec. 13th

For Prints:
Place your orders by Dec. 8th.

For all other AFA gear:
Place your orders by Dec. 13th

*Please note: Despite our best efforts, we can’t guarantee your orders will arrive before Christmas day.

To purchase AFA gifts:
Visit our online store
Call us at 250 896 4007
Book an appointment to visit our office
Give us a call at 250 896 4007 or email info@16.52.162.165

Proceeds help assist our work to protect endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry in BC.

Thank you for considering the AFA as your priority organization to support this holiday season!

Thank you to our recent business supporters

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We’ve benefitted from exceptionally awesome projects lately. Thank you to the following businesses, groups, and individuals:

Guru Organic Energy Drink for their generous donation. Guru recently released episode 2 of their “True Nature Series” called “Full Circle” featuring athlete and artist, Joel Fuller. Thanks, Joel and all involved for bringing awareness to the AFA and endangered ancient forests in BC: https://www.guruenergy.com/en-ca/stories/joel-k-fuller-one-with-nature

Patagonia Victoria for their dynamic and ongoing support including contributing through their 1% for the planet commitments, donating proceeds from a recent film night, and hosting a selection of AFA gear in their retail shop in downtown Vic.

Good Natured Wine & Andrew Peller Limited for donating $1 from every bottle of Good Nature wine at select Save on Foods locations earlier this fall.

Jeff Nytch for donating proceeds from the successful production of “The Song of the Lorax” which featured images by AFA’s TJ Watt. Thank you also to his supporters for their additional contributions. https://www.jeffreynytch.com/lorax

OneUp Components for their awesome support two years in a row. https://www.oneupcomponents.com/

Evergrow Christmas Trees for their support and for signing a resolution in solidarity of protecting endangered old-growth forests in BC. https://evergrowchristmastrees.ca/

West Coast Trail Express for their generosity. https://trailbus.com/

Hemp & Company for their many years of support. https://hempandcompany.com/

Author Rhonda Kokosha for donating following the launch of a new book “I Really Like the Trees Outside” meant to inspire children and adults alike to appreciate trees and nature. www.rhondakokosha.com

Melissa MacGregor for donating partial proceeds from sales of a fine art landscape painting. Visit https://melissacritchlow.com/ to learn more about the print and order details.

Arrowmaker Accounting for including the AFA among their donation commitments to protect endangered old-growth forests in BC. www.arrowmaker.ca

Double Diamond Law for contributing in several ways to the ancient forest movement. https://doublediamondlaw.com/

However big or small the gesture, we appreciate it! Thank you. ?

West coast old-growth forests recommended for deferral in Vancouver Island’s Barkley Sound at risk of logging.

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VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are raising concerns over Interfor’s plans to log 33 cutblocks, totaling 55 hectares, in rare, intact old-growth forest along the coastline of western Vancouver Island and are calling on the BC government to commit conservation funding to support immediate protection of at-risk old-growth forests.

The approved cutblocks, which members of the AFA visited and explored in summer 2021, are located in Vernon Bay, a stunning stretch of coastal old-growth forest in Barkley Sound in the territories of the Uchucklesaht and Tseshaht nations. Conservationists measured unprotected monumental redcedar trees up to 12 feet in diameter.

Some of the ancient forests found here, where the BC government only recently granted approval for logging, have since been identified by the province’s independent Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) for immediate deferral due to their very large old-growth trees. Despite the province having accepted, in principle, the TAP’s recommendation to defer logging in 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old-growth forests across BC last month, logging in the Vernon Bay cutblocks will likely proceed unless the local First Nations and the province immediately enact deferrals.

AFA Photographer and Campaigner TJ Watt beside a monumental redcedar tree measuring 12ft (3.6m) wide, growing unprotected in the ancient forests of Vernon Bay in Barkley Sound in Uchucklesaht and Tseshaht Nation territories.

“These are some of the most remarkable and beautiful coastal old-growth forests we’ve explored this year,” stated AFA campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “It’s incredibly rare to come across a large, intact stretch of unprotected ancient forest like this today. Allowing logging to proceed would turn these lush forests into a patchwork of ugly clearcuts.”

“Significant conservation funding is needed from the provincial government to support forestry-dependent communities where old-growth forests are protected, which would help ensure that the science panel’s deferral recommendations can be fully implemented. The federal government has put hundreds of millions of dollars on the table for permanent protection. It’s time for the province to meet or exceed that amount.”

Nine of the 33 approved cutblocks are also located within a “non-legal” Old Growth Management Area (OGMA), the result of a legal loophole that allows old-growth forests that have been identified for protection to still be logged.

“Non-legal OGMAs are areas that have been mapped, but haven’t been legalized by a ministerial Order,” stated Watt. “Some of these OGMAs have remained in draft form for as long as a decade, allowing forest companies to cherry-pick the best trees from them in exchange for setting aside forests that are less commercially and ecologically valuable elsewhere. One of the simplest steps the province could immediately take to protect old-growth would be to legalize all non-legal OGMA’s,” stated Watt.

The coastal old-growth in Vernon Bay comprises a habitat for diverse and abundant wildlife, including gray wolves, and is designated as an Important Bird Area for marbled murrelets, an old-growth forest-dependent seabird. Barkley Sound is also a renowned destination for sea kayakers and supports countless marine life, including Orcas, Humpback Whales, and Pacific Gray Whales. With many of the proposed cutblocks located immediately adjacent to the shoreline, the AFA is also concerned the logging will have adverse impacts on the area’s visual quality.
 

Overlooking the unprotected ancient forests of Vernon Bay in Barkley Sound in Uchucklesaht and Tseshaht Nation territories. 33 logging cutblocks have been approved in this region, some overlapping with the newly recommended deferral areas.

“Approaching the coastline by water, you can easily imagine earlier times when the island was blanketed with intact forests,” said Ian Illuminato, AFA Campaigner. “While its remote location has allowed Vernon Bay to remain largely intact for now, this area and others like it could be lost unless the BC government immediately commits funding to support the development of Indigenous Protected Areas through First Nations land use planning initiatives, which first requires logging deferrals,” said Illuminato.

“Recent studies have shown that old-growth forests are worth far more standing than logged, in terms of economics and in terms of climate change. Considering the catastrophic impacts of climate change felt throughout BC this year, it’s hard to imagine why we would choose to continue eliminating one of our best defenses against drought, floods, and fires through destructive old-growth clearcutting.”