AFA’s TJ Watt recently sat down for a chat with Creative Director Heidi Volpe at A Photo Editor.
Read on to find out about how he got into conservation photography, the founding of AFA, the affection he has for Big Lonely Doug, and the impact his photos have on shaping the way people view forests and logging in British Columbia.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/3-Eden-Grove-Port-Renfrew-TJ-Watt-1.jpg16672500TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-03-08 17:04:222023-04-06 19:05:30TJ Watt featured in A Photo Editor
Conservationists argue more support is necessary for First Nations communities to ensure most at-risk ancient forests can remain standing.
VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – The BC government appears to have improved upon funding commitments for old-growth forests in Budget 2022, but still has fallen short of providing the amount necessary to fully protect endangered ancient forests in BC. $185 million has been budgeted for old-growth, which includes funding for workers, industry, communities, and First Nations. Depending on how funding is allocated, this announcement potentially contains up to one-third of the contribution needed from the province to support First Nations communities, whose consent is needed to implement old-growth logging deferrals.
Conservationists have repeatedly called for the province to commit at least $300 million to support Indigenous-led old-growth logging deferrals, land-use plans, and protected areas alone.
This would include funding for Indigenous Guardians programs, offsetting the lost revenues for logging deferrals, and support for the sustainable economic diversification of First Nations communities in lieu of old-growth logging and linked to the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas. Support for forestry workers and contractors, and legally defined compensation for major licensees, would be above and beyond this total.
Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner & photographer TJ Watt stands beside a giant old-growth cedar stump in the Caycuse Valley in Ditidaht territory.
“Today the BC government took a first step in the right direction in funding for old-growth,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “However, they still fell short on the funding needed to relieve the economic pressure faced by First Nations so that logging deferrals can become an economically viable option for them. This funding shortfall makes enacting the full suite of old-growth logging deferrals virtually impossible to achieve.”
The BC government has committed to implementing all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. In its list of recommendations, the review panel directed the province to act quickly to defer (temporarily halt) the logging of old-growth forests at high risk of biodiversity loss. The BC government later accepted, in principle, the recommendation to defer 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk ancient forests by an independent science panel, focusing on the largest and oldest trees remaining in BC. Months later, 570,000 hectares have been deferred on lands managed by BC Timber Sales, and an additional smaller fraction has been set aside by First Nations, while some forests identified for deferral continue to be logged.
Federal funding is available to support environmental protection in BC. $2.3 billion was committed last 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 is earmarked for “Nature Smart Climate Solutions” with $200 million already allocated for the protection of carbon-rich ecosystems such as BC’s old-growth forests.
Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner & photographer TJ Watt stands beside a giant old-growth cedar tree in a forest recommended for deferral near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.
“It’s time that the BC government embraced the significant funding available from the federal government to help support land conservation initiatives in BC, including for old-growth forests,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Ian Illuminato. “This is a golden opportunity to obtain hundreds of millions in funding from the federal government to support the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and support the permanent protection of old-growth forests. Why are they waiting?”
Last week, 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities urged the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests. Their letter requested that the BC government swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals. Citizens across BC have recently made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of letters calling for increased funding for old-growth protection as well.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Nitinat-River-March-11-2020-206.jpg10001500TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-02-22 17:20:402024-10-10 11:23:47Funding for Old-Growth Arrives in BC Budget, Falls Short of What’s Needed
VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – A letter signed by 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities is urging the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests, including by allocating significant funding in the upcoming provincial budget, set to be released February 22nd. Read the letter here.
Metchosin councillor and forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon beside Big Lonely Doug, Canada’s second-largest Douglas-fir tree, found near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.
The letter is addressed and sent to seven provincial decision-makers, including Premier Horgan, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy, and Environment Minister George Heyman, and is signed by mayors, councillors, and regional district directors from diverse communities including Comox, Nanaimo, Powell River, Saanich, Victoria, Vancouver, Nelson, and Tahsis. In it, the elected leaders commend the province for taking the first important steps towards protecting old-growth forests and express their concern with the insufficient amount of funding committed so far to ensure success.
“Imagine asking California to turn their iconic Ancient Redwoods into roof shingles – you’d get laughed out of the room,” said Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov, one of the letter’s co-authors. “That’s how we treat the last remnants of old-growth forests we have left. This budget cycle, the province needs to put their money where their mouth is and commit significant funding to finally make good on their promise to protect our world-class old-growth assets,” Vagramov continued. “It’s time we log elsewhere; the vast majority of BC is now second-growth forest.”
The letter urges the BC government to swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals in 2.6 million hectares of at-risk ancient forests.
The fund, they argue, is also crucial to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests by supporting Indigenous-led land-use planning, the creation and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), and the development of sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging.
“Communities need sufficient funding and support to transition away from old-growth logging while ensuring economic prosperity through more sustainable means,” stated Ben Geselbracht, Nanaimo city councillor and co-author of the letter. “Without critical funding to support economic alternatives and transitions, the current path will lead to the collapse of old-growth ecosystems and the economies of many communities.”
Tahsis Mayor Martin Davis next to a giant old-growth Douglas-fir tree growing unprotected near town in Mowachaht/Muchalahtterritory.
The provincial government has so far offered limited funding, including $12.6 million for capacity building support for First Nations to engage in the initial logging deferrals process, and $19 million to help forestry workers impacted by the deferrals. The municipal leaders acknowledge these are important first steps, but they are inadequate to provide the kind of support communities need to protect at-risk old-growth while diversifying their economies.
“Indigenous Protected Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests can play a significant role in supporting community wellbeing and economic diversification,” said Andy MacKinnon, a forest ecologist and Councillor for the District of Metchosin. “But their creation and management require investment. The federal government has come to the table with hundreds of millions of dollars that can be used to help solve BC’s old-growth crisis, but where is the province?”
Last year, the federal government pledged $2.3 billion to help Canada achieve its international commitments to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025. 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 was 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.
Metchosin councillor and forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon measures a giant old-growth Douglas-fir tree on Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.
The municipal leaders’ letter urges the BC government to adopt Canada’s goals of protecting 25% of lands and waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030 and to act quickly to implement all the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review panel, including developing overarching biodiversity protection legislation, setting new, science-based old-growth protection targets for all old-growth forest ecosystems, and implementing an ecosystem-based approach to forest management.
“Ancient forests are in peril across the province,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “Municipal leaders and their constituents are advocating for lasting solutions that support local economies and these irreplaceable ecosystems. The BC government needs to fund old-growth protection and economic diversification in Budget 2022.”
-30 –
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/3-Tahsis-Mayor-Martin-Davis.jpg12001800TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-02-16 09:00:402024-07-30 16:35:10Municipal leaders in BC call on provincial government to commit funding for old-growth protection in Budget 2022
Nicknamed “The Cathedral Grove of the North Island”, White River Provincial Park is a protected old-growth jewel on Vancouver Island.
After over a century of relentless logging, old-growth Douglas-fir stands like this one have become exceedingly rare in British Columbia. However, in a strange twist of fate, this ancient forest still stands thanks, in part, to three loggers who refused to fell the trees here in the 1990’s.
If you’re looking for an adventure, make this slice of old-growth heaven a must-see and be sure to support the local businesses in town.
1,000-year-old Douglas-firs tower above the forest floor in this protected old-growth forest on Vancouver Island.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/white-river-provincial-park-158.jpg10001500TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-02-15 09:41:542024-10-05 11:26:33Photos: White River Provincial Park
Looking for a sustainable gift idea this Valentine’s Day? Why not show your love for ancient forests AND those close to you by dedicating a donation to the AFA in honour of a loved one. Click here to visit our donation page, select ‘yes’ under Dedicate, write your personalized message, and voila! your Valentine’s Day gift will go towards protecting ancient forests. Please note: If you wish for your message to be received by Valentine’s Day, choose the email option. Thank you for your generous support!
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/nahmint-valley-hugging-douglas-fir-tree.jpg15001000TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-02-09 07:08:522024-10-10 11:45:42Show your love for ancient forests this Valentine’s Day
VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are celebrating that the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) has joined the call on the BC government to protect endangered old-growth forests and enable the shift to a sustainable, second-growth forest industry.
In December, TIABC signed an AFA resolution that acknowledges the significant economic benefits standing old-growth forests provide, including for BC’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry, and urges the province to support Indigenous communities to defer and permanently protect old-growth forests, which are central to many First Nations’ cultures, while supporting sustainable economic development.
Tourists visit the giant trees of Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, BC in Pacheedaht territory. ‘Big Tree Tourism’ has seen a dramatic rise in the town over the past decade, giving the local economy a major economic boost. Photograph by TJ Watt.
“Old-growth forests are vital to British Columbia’s ‘super, natural’ image and are part of what makes BC an increasingly popular destination for tourists from near and far,” said Walt Judas, TIABC CEO. “Our tourism and broader economy depend on healthy, functioning old-growth forests to provide things like climate stability, wildlife habitat, and clean water and to support myriad tourism and recreational activities like wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, and more.”
“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 travel restrictions in the last two years, domestic tourism has thrived, with British Columbians increasingly flocking to BC’s parks, outdoor spaces, and nearby rural communities. Continuing to log old-growth forests would further compromise the over $23 billion in average annual tourism spending that many thousands of people rely on in the province.”
“We applaud TIABC’s decision to speak up for old-growth forest protection,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness. “The tourism sector won’t stand by while BC continues to destroy its globally rare forests and, with them, sustainable tourism jobs. By passing this resolution, TIABC joins a growing chorus of voices across BC, calling on the province to step up its efforts to protect old-growth while supporting communities’ economic wellbeing.
Avatar Grove, Port Renfrew BC.
TIABC is the primary advocate for BC’s tourism industry, one of the province’s top business sectors, and represents most of the province’s 19,000 tourism businesses and nearly 300,000 employees. Nature-based tourism is one of the top three drivers of BC’s tourism and rural economy, supporting 26,000 direct full-time jobs and some 40,000 jobs in total.
TIABC joins the Wilderness Tourism Association, over 100 BC businesses, mayors and city councils (Union of BC Municipalities and Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities), First Nations (Union of BC Indian Chiefs), unions (the Public and Private Workers of Canada forestry union) and conservation groups across BC who have called on the provincial government to increase protection for BC’s endangered old-growth forests.
Communities across the province stand to benefit from protecting ancient forests. An economic analysis commissioned by the Ancient Forest Alliance in 2021 showed that keeping old-growth forests standing can provide greater overall economic benefits than cutting them down when factoring in their value in supporting tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, commercial fisheries, education and research, and non-timber forest products (e.g. mushrooms and salal).
The BC government has promised to take significant steps to protect old-growth forests and overhaul BC’s forest sector by implementing all the recommendations in the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel’s 2020 report. As a first step, in November, the province announced its intent to defer logging in 2.6M ha of the most at-risk old-growth forests across the province. However, conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance are deeply concerned by the lack of provincial funding to support Indigenous-led old-growth protection.
“The province has acknowledged the biodiversity crisis that’s resulted from decades of unsustainable forestry and has promised to act, but endangered ancient forests are still being logged every day,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer, TJ Watt.
TJ Watt of the Ancient Forest Alliance stands beside a giant redcedar tree in the unprotected Eden Grove near Port Renfrew, BC in Pacheedaht territory. This forest is growing in popularity but its future remains uncertain. Photograph by TJ Watt.
“Protecting old-growth forests is vital to support healthy, safe, and prosperous communities. Without provincial support and significant funding, First Nations and forest-based communities are losing opportunities to protect old-growth forests and diversify their economies through nature-based cultural and eco-tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, sustainable second-growth logging and manufacturing, and more.”
The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC government to commit several hundred million dollars in conservation financing in the upcoming provincial budget to support logging deferrals, Indigenous-led land-use planning and sustainable economic development, Guardians programs, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1-Avatar-Grove-Tourists-1.jpg12001800TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-02-08 09:08:292023-04-06 19:05:44Conservationists Applaud Tourism Industry Association of BC for Joining the Call to Protect Old-Growth Forests
The AFA would like to extend a massive thank you to the following businesses, groups, and individuals for generously supporting the AFA and our campaign to protect old-growth forests:
Bokashi Living for their support and passion for old-growth forests
Artist Ed Hughes for donating partial proceeds from sales of the painting, “Save our trees please”. Visit https://www.instagram.com/eghughesart/ to learn more about the painting and purchase details.
Our work would not be possible without the generosity of these and all of our AFA supporters. Thank you so much!
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Koksilah-Ancient-Forest-March-2020-4.jpg8001200TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-01-20 17:14:492023-04-06 19:05:44Thank you to our generous business supporters!
The Ancient Forest Alliance team wishes to thank Andrea Inness, who will be departing in early February after devoting five years as a Forest Campaigner with the AFA, including three and a half years on the Executive Team. With her strong work ethic, intelligence, advanced logistical skills, and sense of responsibility, Andrea helped lead the Ancient Forest Alliance to numerous campaign and organizational successes over these years.
Andrea Inness, Forest Campaigner for the AFA, 2017 – 2022.
Andrea was prolific in her work liaising with organizations, stakeholders, allies, and government, writing, speaking, researching, exploring old-growth forests, and working behind the scenes with internal organization management. Her professional skills, experience, and dedication helped pressure the provincial government to start moving towards comprehensive, meaningful protection for ancient forests in BC.
“I’m very proud of the work AFA has accomplished with the help of our many caring, passionate supporters. There is hope for the future of old-growth forests because we have refused to give up and have continued to expand and strengthen the ancient forest movement,” stated Andrea. “I’m grateful for my time at the AFA, for the opportunity to help protect the magnificent old-growth forests in BC, and for the people I’ve had the privilege of working with along the way.”
Andrea in the Nahmint Valley, 2018.
“I feel confident leaving AFA at this point in time. The campaign has entered a new chapter, with the province now listening to the best available science and committing to major policy changes. The organization is in good hands with both new staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table, and long-term and dedicated staff,” she concluded.
We are grateful to Andrea for all she has done for the AFA and the campaign to protect old-growth forests. We wish her every success in her next exciting chapter.
Andrea under a bracket fungus in the San Juan River Valley, 2018.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_4889.jpg7431200TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2022-01-19 09:01:542024-07-30 17:00:21Goodbye to AFA’s Forest Campaigner, Andrea Inness.
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.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Funding-Press-Conference-Dec-2021-59.jpg10001500TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2021-12-21 12:52:272023-04-06 19:05:44Environmentalists, Green Party MLA, and prominent forest ecologist make holiday-themed appeal for provincial old-growth funding
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.
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.
https://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/spruce-bay-old-growth-port-alice-16.jpg10001500TJ Watthttps://staging.ancientforestalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-AFA-Logo-1000px.pngTJ Watt2021-12-20 15:54:532024-10-05 11:26:49Photos: Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail – Port Alice
TJ Watt featured in A Photo Editor
/in News CoverageAFA’s TJ Watt recently sat down for a chat with Creative Director Heidi Volpe at A Photo Editor.
Read on to find out about how he got into conservation photography, the founding of AFA, the affection he has for Big Lonely Doug, and the impact his photos have on shaping the way people view forests and logging in British Columbia.
Funding for Old-Growth Arrives in BC Budget, Falls Short of What’s Needed
/in Media ReleaseFor immediate release
February 22, 2022
Conservationists argue more support is necessary for First Nations communities to ensure most at-risk ancient forests can remain standing.
VICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – The BC government appears to have improved upon funding commitments for old-growth forests in Budget 2022, but still has fallen short of providing the amount necessary to fully protect endangered ancient forests in BC. $185 million has been budgeted for old-growth, which includes funding for workers, industry, communities, and First Nations. Depending on how funding is allocated, this announcement potentially contains up to one-third of the contribution needed from the province to support First Nations communities, whose consent is needed to implement old-growth logging deferrals.
Conservationists have repeatedly called for the province to commit at least $300 million to support Indigenous-led old-growth logging deferrals, land-use plans, and protected areas alone.
This would include funding for Indigenous Guardians programs, offsetting the lost revenues for logging deferrals, and support for the sustainable economic diversification of First Nations communities in lieu of old-growth logging and linked to the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas. Support for forestry workers and contractors, and legally defined compensation for major licensees, would be above and beyond this total.
“Today the BC government took a first step in the right direction in funding for old-growth,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “However, they still fell short on the funding needed to relieve the economic pressure faced by First Nations so that logging deferrals can become an economically viable option for them. This funding shortfall makes enacting the full suite of old-growth logging deferrals virtually impossible to achieve.”
The BC government has committed to implementing all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. In its list of recommendations, the review panel directed the province to act quickly to defer (temporarily halt) the logging of old-growth forests at high risk of biodiversity loss. The BC government later accepted, in principle, the recommendation to defer 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk ancient forests by an independent science panel, focusing on the largest and oldest trees remaining in BC. Months later, 570,000 hectares have been deferred on lands managed by BC Timber Sales, and an additional smaller fraction has been set aside by First Nations, while some forests identified for deferral continue to be logged.
Federal funding is available to support environmental protection in BC. $2.3 billion was committed last 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 is earmarked for “Nature Smart Climate Solutions” with $200 million already allocated for the protection of carbon-rich ecosystems such as BC’s old-growth forests.
“It’s time that the BC government embraced the significant funding available from the federal government to help support land conservation initiatives in BC, including for old-growth forests,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Ian Illuminato. “This is a golden opportunity to obtain hundreds of millions in funding from the federal government to support the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and support the permanent protection of old-growth forests. Why are they waiting?”
Last week, 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities urged the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests. Their letter requested that the BC government swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals. Citizens across BC have recently made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of letters calling for increased funding for old-growth protection as well.
Municipal leaders in BC call on provincial government to commit funding for old-growth protection in Budget 2022
/in Media ReleaseVICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – A letter signed by 25 municipal leaders from 14 BC communities is urging the province to follow through on its promises to protect at-risk old-growth forests, including by allocating significant funding in the upcoming provincial budget, set to be released February 22nd. Read the letter here.
The letter is addressed and sent to seven provincial decision-makers, including Premier Horgan, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy, and Environment Minister George Heyman, and is signed by mayors, councillors, and regional district directors from diverse communities including Comox, Nanaimo, Powell River, Saanich, Victoria, Vancouver, Nelson, and Tahsis. In it, the elected leaders commend the province for taking the first important steps towards protecting old-growth forests and express their concern with the insufficient amount of funding committed so far to ensure success.
“Imagine asking California to turn their iconic Ancient Redwoods into roof shingles – you’d get laughed out of the room,” said Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov, one of the letter’s co-authors. “That’s how we treat the last remnants of old-growth forests we have left. This budget cycle, the province needs to put their money where their mouth is and commit significant funding to finally make good on their promise to protect our world-class old-growth assets,” Vagramov continued. “It’s time we log elsewhere; the vast majority of BC is now second-growth forest.”
The letter urges the BC government to swiftly establish a provincial fund to relieve the economic pressure that makes it challenging for many First Nations communities to support logging deferrals in 2.6 million hectares of at-risk ancient forests.
The fund, they argue, is also crucial to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests by supporting Indigenous-led land-use planning, the creation and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), and the development of sustainable economic alternatives to old-growth logging.
“Communities need sufficient funding and support to transition away from old-growth logging while ensuring economic prosperity through more sustainable means,” stated Ben Geselbracht, Nanaimo city councillor and co-author of the letter. “Without critical funding to support economic alternatives and transitions, the current path will lead to the collapse of old-growth ecosystems and the economies of many communities.”
The provincial government has so far offered limited funding, including $12.6 million for capacity building support for First Nations to engage in the initial logging deferrals process, and $19 million to help forestry workers impacted by the deferrals. The municipal leaders acknowledge these are important first steps, but they are inadequate to provide the kind of support communities need to protect at-risk old-growth while diversifying their economies.
“Indigenous Protected Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests can play a significant role in supporting community wellbeing and economic diversification,” said Andy MacKinnon, a forest ecologist and Councillor for the District of Metchosin. “But their creation and management require investment. The federal government has come to the table with hundreds of millions of dollars that can be used to help solve BC’s old-growth crisis, but where is the province?”
Last year, the federal government pledged $2.3 billion to help Canada achieve its international commitments to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025. 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 was 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 municipal leaders’ letter urges the BC government to adopt Canada’s goals of protecting 25% of lands and waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030 and to act quickly to implement all the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review panel, including developing overarching biodiversity protection legislation, setting new, science-based old-growth protection targets for all old-growth forest ecosystems, and implementing an ecosystem-based approach to forest management.
“Ancient forests are in peril across the province,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer TJ Watt. “Municipal leaders and their constituents are advocating for lasting solutions that support local economies and these irreplaceable ecosystems. The BC government needs to fund old-growth protection and economic diversification in Budget 2022.”
-30 –
Photos: White River Provincial Park
/in Photo GalleryNicknamed “The Cathedral Grove of the North Island”, White River Provincial Park is a protected old-growth jewel on Vancouver Island.
After over a century of relentless logging, old-growth Douglas-fir stands like this one have become exceedingly rare in British Columbia. However, in a strange twist of fate, this ancient forest still stands thanks, in part, to three loggers who refused to fell the trees here in the 1990’s.
If you’re looking for an adventure, make this slice of old-growth heaven a must-see and be sure to support the local businesses in town.
Show your love for ancient forests this Valentine’s Day
/in AnnouncementsLooking for a sustainable gift idea this Valentine’s Day? Why not show your love for ancient forests AND those close to you by dedicating a donation to the AFA in honour of a loved one. Click here to visit our donation page, select ‘yes’ under Dedicate, write your personalized message, and voila! your Valentine’s Day gift will go towards protecting ancient forests. Please note: If you wish for your message to be received by Valentine’s Day, choose the email option. Thank you for your generous support!
Conservationists Applaud Tourism Industry Association of BC for Joining the Call to Protect Old-Growth Forests
/in Media ReleaseVICTORIA (Unceded Lekwungen Territories) – Conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are celebrating that the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) has joined the call on the BC government to protect endangered old-growth forests and enable the shift to a sustainable, second-growth forest industry.
In December, TIABC signed an AFA resolution that acknowledges the significant economic benefits standing old-growth forests provide, including for BC’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry, and urges the province to support Indigenous communities to defer and permanently protect old-growth forests, which are central to many First Nations’ cultures, while supporting sustainable economic development.
Click here to read the resolution.
“Old-growth forests are vital to British Columbia’s ‘super, natural’ image and are part of what makes BC an increasingly popular destination for tourists from near and far,” said Walt Judas, TIABC CEO. “Our tourism and broader economy depend on healthy, functioning old-growth forests to provide things like climate stability, wildlife habitat, and clean water and to support myriad tourism and recreational activities like wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, and more.”
“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 travel restrictions in the last two years, domestic tourism has thrived, with British Columbians increasingly flocking to BC’s parks, outdoor spaces, and nearby rural communities. Continuing to log old-growth forests would further compromise the over $23 billion in average annual tourism spending that many thousands of people rely on in the province.”
“We applaud TIABC’s decision to speak up for old-growth forest protection,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness. “The tourism sector won’t stand by while BC continues to destroy its globally rare forests and, with them, sustainable tourism jobs. By passing this resolution, TIABC joins a growing chorus of voices across BC, calling on the province to step up its efforts to protect old-growth while supporting communities’ economic wellbeing.
TIABC is the primary advocate for BC’s tourism industry, one of the province’s top business sectors, and represents most of the province’s 19,000 tourism businesses and nearly 300,000 employees. Nature-based tourism is one of the top three drivers of BC’s tourism and rural economy, supporting 26,000 direct full-time jobs and some 40,000 jobs in total.
TIABC joins the Wilderness Tourism Association, over 100 BC businesses, mayors and city councils (Union of BC Municipalities and Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities), First Nations (Union of BC Indian Chiefs), unions (the Public and Private Workers of Canada forestry union) and conservation groups across BC who have called on the provincial government to increase protection for BC’s endangered old-growth forests.
Communities across the province stand to benefit from protecting ancient forests. An economic analysis commissioned by the Ancient Forest Alliance in 2021 showed that keeping old-growth forests standing can provide greater overall economic benefits than cutting them down when factoring in their value in supporting tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, commercial fisheries, education and research, and non-timber forest products (e.g. mushrooms and salal).
The BC government has promised to take significant steps to protect old-growth forests and overhaul BC’s forest sector by implementing all the recommendations in the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel’s 2020 report. As a first step, in November, the province announced its intent to defer logging in 2.6M ha of the most at-risk old-growth forests across the province. However, conservationists with the Ancient Forest Alliance are deeply concerned by the lack of provincial funding to support Indigenous-led old-growth protection.
“The province has acknowledged the biodiversity crisis that’s resulted from decades of unsustainable forestry and has promised to act, but endangered ancient forests are still being logged every day,” stated Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner and photographer, TJ Watt.
“Protecting old-growth forests is vital to support healthy, safe, and prosperous communities. Without provincial support and significant funding, First Nations and forest-based communities are losing opportunities to protect old-growth forests and diversify their economies through nature-based cultural and eco-tourism, recreation, carbon offsets, sustainable second-growth logging and manufacturing, and more.”
The Ancient Forest Alliance is calling on the BC government to commit several hundred million dollars in conservation financing in the upcoming provincial budget to support logging deferrals, Indigenous-led land-use planning and sustainable economic development, Guardians programs, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas that permanently protect at-risk old-growth forests.
Thank you to our generous business supporters!
/in Thank YouThe AFA would like to extend a massive thank you to the following businesses, groups, and individuals for generously supporting the AFA and our campaign to protect old-growth forests:
Friends of Leckie Studio & Backcountry Hut Company for their generous contributions
Integral Ecology Group for donating for their third year in a row through the 1% for the Planet program
Exige International & Chicadee Designs for their generous gifts
RDH Building Science Inc. for including the AFA among their top organizations to support
Bokashi Living for their support and passion for old-growth forests
Artist Ed Hughes for donating partial proceeds from sales of the painting, “Save our trees please”. Visit https://www.instagram.com/eghughesart/ to learn more about the painting and purchase details.
Our work would not be possible without the generosity of these and all of our AFA supporters. Thank you so much!
Goodbye to AFA’s Forest Campaigner, Andrea Inness.
/in AnnouncementsThe Ancient Forest Alliance team wishes to thank Andrea Inness, who will be departing in early February after devoting five years as a Forest Campaigner with the AFA, including three and a half years on the Executive Team. With her strong work ethic, intelligence, advanced logistical skills, and sense of responsibility, Andrea helped lead the Ancient Forest Alliance to numerous campaign and organizational successes over these years.
Andrea was prolific in her work liaising with organizations, stakeholders, allies, and government, writing, speaking, researching, exploring old-growth forests, and working behind the scenes with internal organization management. Her professional skills, experience, and dedication helped pressure the provincial government to start moving towards comprehensive, meaningful protection for ancient forests in BC.
“I’m very proud of the work AFA has accomplished with the help of our many caring, passionate supporters. There is hope for the future of old-growth forests because we have refused to give up and have continued to expand and strengthen the ancient forest movement,” stated Andrea. “I’m grateful for my time at the AFA, for the opportunity to help protect the magnificent old-growth forests in BC, and for the people I’ve had the privilege of working with along the way.”
“I feel confident leaving AFA at this point in time. The campaign has entered a new chapter, with the province now listening to the best available science and committing to major policy changes. The organization is in good hands with both new staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table, and long-term and dedicated staff,” she concluded.
We are grateful to Andrea for all she has done for the AFA and the campaign to protect old-growth forests. We wish her every success in her next exciting chapter.
Environmentalists, Green Party MLA, and prominent forest ecologist make holiday-themed appeal for provincial old-growth funding
/in Media ReleaseVICTORIA (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.
“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.
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?”
Photos: Spruce Bay Old Growth Trail – Port Alice
/in Photo GalleryLocated 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.