Fairy Creek Update + More |
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Re-Imagining Forest Management 'The spiraling decline of our planet’s biodiversity is the true tragedy of our time' - David Attenborough from A Life on our Planet The road to carbon neutrality can only be successful if nature’s biodiversity is not only protected but expanded to absorb the residual carbon that mankind will still emit in 2050. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has called for the protection of at least 30% of biodiversity by 2030. Canada and the US are amongst the leading nations to endorse this target. |
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Forests are by far the most ubiquitous vegetation cover in British Columbia and indeed in many other parts of the world. Yet forest biodiversity is under intense threat in British Columbia. The equivalent of 32 soccer fields of old growth are logged every day. On Vancouver Island as little as 1 to 3% of original old growth remains unprotected. Fairy Creek is ground zero for the public campaign to preserve old growth in the San Juan Watershed on southwestern Vancouver Island. Kathy Code, Executive Director of the Ecoforestry Institute Society, is one of the leaders of a campaign to place an injunction on logging this watershed. She will be joined by Bill Jones, an Elder with the Pacheedaht First Nation and a leading member of the Rainforest Flying Squad of protestors who are also fighting for an injunction on logging in the courts. Kathy and Bill will explain what is at stake in protecting this jewel and how the protests will place pressure on the BC government. |
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The BC Union of Indian Chiefs demand a moratorium on old growth logging and have called on the BC government to support the 14 recommendations for the Old Growth Strategic Review commissioned by the government last summer. The report recommends that conservation and biodiversity become the principal value for future forest management, overriding industrial logging. Although the government also endorsed the report’s recommendations during the recent election campaign, logging old growth continues with no commitment to end it for the coming decade. |
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'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world... indeed, it's the only thing that ever has' - Margaret Mead |
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Old Growth forests are also key to storing vast amounts of carbon. Forest ecologist, Jim Pojar will explain the importance of old growth and the changes in current forest management practices to convert forests from being a carbon source to a carbon sink. Biodiversity will help reduce carbon released from forest fires and increase security of watersheds from drought and floods. British Columbia has developed a world-class system of parks and protected areas. Tory Stevens, a park ecologist will explain the vital contribution these parks play in not only preserving biodiversity but also providing a wide range of outdoor recreation experiences for the world. There is much at stake. This webinar on Wednesday, March 10th, from 11 am to noon PST will explore real solutions to reversing the decline in forest biodiversity with leading experts who are re-imagining forest management. |
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Tory Stevens is retired from two decades with BC Parks where she worked on conservation issues. Primarily she focused on landscape ecology, conservation biology and the role of parks in climate change adaptation. She was instrumental in establishing the BC Protected Areas Research Forum and set up a long-term monitoring program throughout the province. Her background is in wildlife biology. |
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Jim Pojar has lived and worked in British Columbia for 50 years. He has a PhD in Botany from UBC, is a professional biologist, certified senior ecologist (ESA), and used to be a registered professional forester. From 1978 to 2004 he was a Forest Ecologist and Research Manager, BC Forest Service, Smithers. More recently and in retirement he has focused on climate change, nature conservation, and forest carbon stewardship. |
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Bill Jones is an Elder with the Pacheedaht First Nation, located 55 km southwest of Victoria, BC on the Vancouver Island coast. He is a leading member of the Rainforest Flying Squad of protestors who are fighting for an injunction on logging in the courts. |
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After retiring from the BC provincial government as an economic development analyst, Kathy Code has continued her passion for social justice and economics in very tangible ways. Currently the Vice-chair and Communications Director of the Ecoforestry Institute Society, she is proud to be part of the team that saved Wildwood, keeping it in the public domain. |
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She has since helped drive the strategy to operate Wildwood within ecological commitments while meeting social, cultural and financial responsibilities. An avid learner, she follows the foremost thought leaders of our time, including Naomi Klein, Jeffrey Sachs, Thomas Piketty, Paul Hawken and Project Drawdown, and most recently, Kate Raworth. She is the founder of Juniper Community Solutions, a company dedicated to building community resilience and social justice for all. Kathy holds a BA in Political Science and Psychology, a Diploma in Criminology and a Masters in Environment and Management. |
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Re-Imagining Agriculture Water required for agriculture is becoming a major concern for water and food security across the province of British Columbia. This issue will only get worse over the coming decade as the climate dries and warms. Many parts of BC will face significant water shortages with growing conflicts in allocation between groundwater and stream flows and between supporting irrigated agriculture and meeting the environmental needs for salmon and resident fish. Consequently, the BC government is tackling this major risk to water security with a newly crafted strategy supported by a Watershed Security Fund. A key part of this strategy will be to make more efficient use of water used in the agricultural sector. There are many farmers who have secured more water than they need through historic water licensing. There are even more farmers who cannot secure water required for expansion to meet the growing demands for food. Learn how a new approach to reallocate water can resolve these conflicts and gain insight into a variety of resources and information relating to regenerative farming. |
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Mountain Forest Fundraiser Update |
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Creatively United for the Planet has curated a trio of getaway packages in our Show Your Love for the Forest campaign to help save a precious intact eco-system and 49-acre wildlife corridor in Saanich, BC from development by this Earth Day, April 22, 2021. One package will be randomly awarded monthly to a donor who contributes to the Mountain Road Forest Campaign that month. The winner of February’s Hornby Island Getaway Package was drawn by Creatively United's Community Connector, Frances Litman, shown here. |
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March's getaway package will feature a 3-day stay in a Tofino paired with an original work of art by Roy Henry Vickers. All donors making a $1,000+ gift in March will be eligible to randomly win this Tofino getaway package. Thank you to everyone for your donation and continued support to ensure this forest is protected and preserved as parkland. For details and donations please visit www.mountainroadforest.ca |
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About Creatively United & Our Community Partners |
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The Creatively United for the Planet Society is a registered non-profit society. Since 2012, we have brought together more than 10,000 people from throughout the region who care about happy, healthy, and resilient communities. We have done so through eight zero-waste sustainability showcases, numerous community events and educational talks, collaborative partnerships, a video series, and the CreativelyUnited.org free community information network, resource and solutions sharing hub. The Gail O'Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, supported by The Victoria Foundation, is dedicated to changing human consciousness towards global environmental change by combining science with the creativity of the performing arts. Creatively United and Climate and the Arts both appreciate the support of the Polis Foundation for its assistance in the production of these webinars. Under the Distinguished Patronage of:
Her Honour,
The Honourable Janet Austin, OBC
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia |
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