Photo: Colin Payne Photography
You have a chance to help protect old growth forests in the Kootenays. The BC government is seeking public input on its old growth strategy.
Our old growth forests support biodiversity, are vital as carbon sinks to mitigate the climate crisis, and allow plants and animals such as wolverines and caribou to thrive as no other forests can. Our old growth and our inland temperate rainforest are unique in the world, and they are at risk.
The BC government’s current old growth forest management policies and regulations are a complete failure. This public engagement opportunity is a chance to make sure they change the regulations and protect old growth forests while they still can.
The government’s engagement web page provides three options to give your feedback:
- there’s an online questionnaire
- you can make a formal written submission
- or you can send an email
They’re accepting input until January 31, but why wait? Send your feedback today.
EcoSociety submitted a detailed letter with Y2Y and Wildsight. You can read it here.
The evidence is damning
Greg Utzig and Evan McKenzie are forestry professionals and members of our conservation committee, and both are interviewed in this very thorough and revealing article about the crisis facing our old growth forests.
One telling quote from the article: “Because the province itself doesn’t track old growth logging, it is hard to pin down where else British Columbia is failing to meet its own mandates for old growth retention.”
Please add your voice to our petition to protect old growth forests, and please take a few minutes to fill in the province’s questionnaire or send an email. They need to see the overwhelming support for protecting old growth forests.