A Bold, Grassroots Blueprint for Forestry Reform in BC
The New Forest Act is a legislative proposal to fix what’s broken in BC forestry—from the ground up.
The New Forest Act is about three things: ecological integrity, community decision-making, and local economies.
It’s a clear, actionable plan to protect watersheds, restore degraded forests, and secure sustainable rural jobs—rooted in science and community priorities, not industry spin.
Created by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society (BFWSS), the Act offers a credible alternative to the centralized, industry-run model that has dominated public forests for decades.
This isn’t a PR campaign or a protest slogan. It’s a fully developed policy framework—already being presented to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), government staff, and local councils across the province.
Led by People Who Live With the Consequences
The New Forest Act campaign is led by those who’ve seen the costs of industrial logging up close—flooded homes, depleted watersheds, lost jobs, and disappearing biodiversity.
It’s coordinated by Jennifer Houghton, an organizer who lived through the devastating 2018 flood in Grand Forks and has since become a leading voice for forestry reform in BC.
BFWSS is the lead organization, supported by a growing network of rural residents, scientists, forest workers, and local groups. These are not paid lobbyists or corporate-backed activists—they are people with a stake in BC’s future.
“In 2018, four feet of water tore through my home. Seeing the link to upstream clear‑cutting is why I’m fighting for the New Forest Act.”
— Jennifer Houghton, Grand Forks
From Corporate Control to Public Stewardship
Most forest policy in BC still serves the same centralized, industry-run system that’s been in place for decades. The result? Degraded watersheds, rural job loss, and escalating climate risks.
The New Forest Act is a different kind of reform. It’s built on public-interest governance, ecological integrity, and local decision-making—anchored in law, not industry goodwill.
It’s politically bold, legally feasible, and grounded in ecosystem science (not industry math). Most importantly, it prioritizes ecological integrity, and shifts control of public forests back to the people who depend on them, not multinational CEOs.
We’ve Already Taken It on the Road
In fall 2024, we hosted a six-stop tour across BC to introduce the New Forest Act.
The events featured renowned forest ecologist Herb Hammond, UBC forest hydrologist Dr. Younes Alila, and local groups sharing the real impacts of industrial logging in their regions.
We presented the proposal in:
- Nanaimo
- Shawnigan Bay
- Vancouver
- Prince George
- Kelowna
- Nelson
Watch the Tour Presentations
These are the people shaping BC’s forest future.
Each of these recordings shows a different side of the crisis – and the hope.
We’re Hitting the Road Again. Powered by People.
We’re launching the spring 2026 New Forest Act Roadshow – a new round of small, focused presentations across the province. The goal is to meet with local councils, MLA offices, and community groups to present the Act in practical, powerful terms.
This time, it’s not big events. It’s quiet, steady pressure from the ground up.
