Citizens Stand to Protect BC's Old-Growth Forests |
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On April 1, the BC Supreme Court handed down a decision to impose the injunction sought by Teal Jones. The order calls for the removal of the peaceful camps protecting several old-growth sites within Tree Farm Licence #46. The Rainforest Flying Squad has held sites at Fairy Creek, Bugaboo, Granite, Creek, Grierson, Edinburgh and others beginning August 2020. Rainforest Flying Squad is a volunteer grassroots organization comprised of citizens, Indigenous peoples, forest professionals, tree planters, families, environmentalists, scientists, academics and others determined to protect the remaining 3% of BC’s magnificent old-growth forests. The judge encouraged the protestors to take their concerns directly to government. |
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Call For Action & Dialogue |
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This conflict has to stop. Citizens create blockades as a last resort when dialogue, phone calls, letters, rallies, and all else fails and when disaster looms. Once those stands of old-growth forests are clear cut, they are irreplaceable. Now is the time to start a respectful dialogue for citizens to protect these forests. We urge you to copy and paste the following actions and send to elected provincial and federal representatives: |
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Mitzi.Dean.MLA@leg.bc.ca, lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca, nathan.cullen.MLA@leg.bc.ca, ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca fin.donnelly.MLA@leg.bc.ca, seamus.oregan@parl.gc.ca, premier@gov.bc.ca, FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca, JTT.Minister@gov.bc.ca, IRR.Minister@gov.bc.ca |
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Immediate Actions Full and honest consultation with Indigenous peoples, including elected band councils, hereditary chiefs and band members in accordance with UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples for free, prior and informed consent. Based on this consultation, the immediate protection of all rare, high productivity old growth forests as defined by Holt et al. in BC’s Old Growth Forest: A Last Stand for Biodiversity.
Longer Term Actions Management of BC’s forests including old growth forests in the public interest, driven by ecological parameters. Recognition that BC’s old-growth forests are a major element in storing carbon under the climate emergency strategy. The creation of community dialogues to discuss opportunities to steward and manage local forests. A transition plan for forestry companies and workers acknowledging the diminishing forest industry, the need to develop a value-added manufacturing sector and the need to diversify local economies.
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The call to protect the last remnants of BC’s old-growth forests has been gathering momentum over the last eight months. BC communities, non-profit organizations and individuals are calling for the government to act on election promises to implement the 14 recommendations of the Gorley/Merkel Old Growth Strategic Review. Last November, Premier Horgan mandated the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Katrine Conroy to: “Implement the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review in collaboration with Indigenous leaders, labour, industry, and environmental groups to protect more old growth stands – in addition to the 353,000 hectares protected in September 2020.” In addition, the Gorley/Merkel report calls for a series of actions to be implemented over three years. Top priorities are the immediate collaboration with Indigenous peoples and a deferral of logging areas of very high risk. Yet the six-month mark has passed with no visible signs of Indigenous consultation or deferment of any old-growth logging. This lack of action over a number of years has pitted forest dependent communities and industrial forest companies who intend to harvest all available old-growth until it is exhausted against those who insist the government follow through on election promises. |
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Mitzi Deane Mitzi.Dean.MLA@leg.bc.ca 1-250-952-5885 Lana Popham lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca (250) 479-4154 Fin Donnelly, MLA Coquitlam-Burke Mountain fin.donnelly.MLA@leg.bc.ca 1-604-642-5020 Hon. Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources
seamus.oregan@parl.gc.ca
1-613-992-0927 Premier John Horgan
premier@gov.bc.ca 1-250-387-1715 Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Stikine nathan.cullen.MLA@leg.bc.ca 1-250-842-6338 Hon. George Heyman, Environment and Climate Change Strategy
ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca
1-250-387-1187
Hon. Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands,
Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
1-250-387-6240
Hon. Ravi Kohlon, Minster for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
JTT.Minister@gov.bc.ca
1-250-356-2771
Hon. Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
IRR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
1-250-953-4844 |
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Webinar Reminder - This Wednesday |
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What specific actions can we all take to lower our carbon footprint and save money? We will explore answers to this question and many others with a panel of climate solutions experts, from 11 am to noon PST, Wednesday, April 7th. |
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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. |
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