Below is the letter we sent to our government representatives calling for a ban on old growth forests. This issue is gaining momentum due a recent scientific study, hunger strikes, and voices raised across the province. Under the letter are two responses we received, one from George Heyman, MLA, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and one from Premier John Horgan, MLA. Knock knock, we’re coming for you!
Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society
PO Box 2926, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0
[email protected]
www.boundaryforest.org
Premier John Horgan MLA, Minister Doug Donaldson MLA, Sheila Malcomson MLA, Doug Routley MLA, Linda Larson MLA, Minister George Heyman MLA, Richard Cannings MP
July 30, 2020
Dear Sirs and Madams,
We are writing to urge you to immediately ban logging old growth forests across British Columbia.
These trees and forests are the best defence we have against a warming climate that threatens all life on this planet, including and especially humankind. They are also the best managers of our water. The loss of old growth and mature trees in the Boundary watershed has already contributed to major flooding here with dire economic impacts. Across the world action is stirring, but it is irregular and weakened. Canada needs to step up as a leader, for our citizens and the entire world.
Mature trees better resist fires, retain water, and sequester carbon; losing them would eventually destroy our habitable world, however most of the old growth forests that once blanketed BC are now gone. Industrial logging continues unabated across the province, targeting the biggest trees and the oldest forests.
In this time when racism and racial inequalities are being reckoned with, many people say “How could people have owned slaves?” or “If I lived at that time I would never have done that”. The critical environmental situation now will be reflected upon in the future with the same judgement and reckoning. Can we as citizens say we are doing anything to mitigate these extreme futures pronounced upon our children and grandchildren? Are we idle, or worse, complicit in these very last moments when change is possible? James Darling and Robert Fuller will not eat until the BC government bans the destruction of old growth forests.
Please quickly enact this ban, respect and protect the lives of these protestors, our citizens, and the world. We are relying on you. Thank you for your service to us all.
Yours truly,
Board of Directors,
Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society
Here is Minister Heyman’s response:
Reference: 359920
August 12, 2020
Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society
Dear Board of Directors:
Thank you for your letter of July 30, 2020, regarding old growth forests in B.C.
You may be interested to know that our government commissioned a review of old growth and old forests policy and practice in B.C. I think we all owe huge thanks to Al Gorley and Garry Merkel for their diligent and thorough work leading the Old Growth Strategic Review panel, and also to the thousands of B.C. residents who took a strong interest and participated in the engagement process. From October 2019 to February 2020, the panel conducted over 200 meetings in 36 communities and met approximately 800 participants. The panel received and reviewed over 300 written submissions as well as more than 18,000 online surveys. These formal written submissions remain available and can be reviewed on the Old Growth website, if you want to review the full range.
The Old Growth Strategic Review panel’s report represents an important first step and launch point towards developing a thorough understanding of potential challenges and opportunities, from as many viewpoints as possible, in relation to the current and future management of and polices related to old forests and their values. My colleague Minister Doug Donaldson, and his staff in the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, is currently reviewing the strategic panel’s report and the implications of their recommendations prior to public release and initial response.
This includes:
- A summary of what the panel heard (more than 200 pages). This includes a summary of the more than 18,000 online surveys and is cross-linked back to the more than 300 written submissions which are also posted on the website.
- Mr. Gorley and Mr. Merkel’s observations and recommendations (a little less than 100 pages).
- A condensed summary of Old Growth Strategic recommendations (about 30 pages).
I am keenly interested in the strategic findings and recommendations of this report. As outlined in the report’s terms of reference, Minister Donaldson has committed to publicly releasing the Old Growth Strategic Report findings and recommendations within six months, but the goal is in August. With respect to the importance and urgency expressed in submissions to the panel, the ministry is taking this time to fully review the panel’s report and recommendations, including considering interim measures implementation, government-to-government engagement with Indigenous Peoples, discussion with workers and communities, and ultimately determining the way ahead. Minister Donaldson has invited me to discuss the material with him and ministry staff. I have also joined him in a number of consultations with environmental advocates concerned about old growth, as there are obvious environmental concerns with respect to ecosystem health, biodiversity and climate.
I know that British Columbians have diverse views on how old growth should be treated and that building a consensus on old growth forests has been a challenge for more than 30 years. Today, as we move forward, we need a science-based approach that presents solutions that respect and understand the benefits of old growth to biodiversity, and includes the views of First Nations, forest communities, forest workers, and industry, as well as the views of all people concerned about ecosystem health. This is a challenge many years in the making, which requires careful attention as we move forward on the Old Growth Strategic Review recommendations.
Many people have alerted my office to a recent report, authored by a trio of independent researchers, that echoes your advocacy and concern for old growth and the preservation of their biodiversity. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development indicates that this independent report was included as a submission to the B.C. Old Growth panel. Minister Donaldson and I have both read the report and take it seriously. We agree there is a clear need for policy solutions that reflect the greater engagement we are seeking with First Nations at a government-to-government level, as well as with environmental organizations, workers, forest-dependent communities, the forestry industry and other groups in a transparent process to find solutions. By working together, we can and will find a path forward for modern and better old forest policies.
Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
George Heyman
Minister
Here is Premier Horgan’s response:
Reference:257733
Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society
Dear Board of Directors:
Thank you for writing to Premier Horgan expressing your concerns regarding the protection of old growth forests.Your letter was referred to me for response. As you may be aware, in July2019,the Government of British Columbia appointed a two-person independent panel to lead an Old Growth Strategic Review. Garry Merkel, a professional forester, natural resource expert, and member of the Tahltan Nation, and Al Gorley, a professional forester and former chair of the Forest Practices Board, engaged First Nations, industry, stakeholders and communities about the future of old growth management in British Columbia. Starting in October 2019, the panel visited 45 communities, held over 200 meetings with close to 800 people, and received over 300 written submissions and more than 18,000 responses to a survey. The panel’s report was submitted to the minister on April 30, 2020.The report, including a “What We Heard” summary, examined old growth management from a variety of perspectives including employment, economic, social, cultural, environmental and climate change values.The panel’s deliberations and work is expected to inform a new approach to old growth management for British Columbia.The minister is currently considering the panel’s report and has committed to publicly releasing it within six months of receiving it.The provincial government will consult with First Nations, industry, non-government organizations and local governments when developing new policy.Thank you again for taking the time to express your concerns.
Yours truly,
David Muter
Assistant Deputy Minister