New Forest Act: A Legislative Blueprint for BC
We’re not just pointing out problems. We’ve written the solution. The New Forest Act is a ready-to-go legislative blueprint. It was shaped with input from ecologists, forestry experts, and affected communities.
Our goal is a new Forest Act in law—anchored in ecological integrity, community decision-making, and stable economies.
Industrial forestry has converted most of B.C.’s primary forests into clearcuts and plantations. That’s driving biodiversity collapse, worsening floods, fires, landslides, and drought, while still shrinking jobs and costing taxpayers billions.
We propose a New Forest Act that puts ecosystem integrity first, returns decision‑making to communities and Indigenous Peoples, and rebuilds stable, diversified local economies.
This isn’t theory. If implemented, the New Forest Act would change how every public forest in BC is managed—protecting water, restoring damaged ecosystems, and keeping forestry jobs rooted in rural communities. It’s a practical plan for future generations, not just the next election cycle.
Inside you’ll find:
- Science-based rules to protect ecosystems, watersheds, and biodiversity (#1 priority)
- A public-interest governance model for BC’s forests
- A 3-part land use system (PRH Model) balancing protection, restoration, and working forests
- Funding strategies to sustain rural economies
- A roadmap for implementation
NEW FOREST ACT PROPOSAL (Oct 2025 PDF)
BACKGROUNDER (Oct 2025 PDF)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (Oct 2025 PDF)
POLICY BRIEF (PDF – 3 pages)
NEW FOREST ACT PROPOSAL FAQ
What is the New Forest Act?
The New Forest Act is a legislative proposal designed to protect watersheds, restore degraded forests, and ensure forestry jobs benefit local communities – not just multinational companies. The New Forest Act is about three things: Ecosystem Integrity, Community-Based Decision-Making, and Community Economies.
How is this different from other forestry reform efforts?
Unlike most campaigns, the NFA is a fully developed framework for legislation – ready to be turned into a Bill – crafted by citizens, not industry or government insiders. It not only prioritizes ecological integrity but it shifts control from centralized corporate management to public-interest stewardship.
Who’s behind the campaign?
The campaign is led by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society, supported by rural residents, scientists, forestry workers, and community groups across BC.
Is this going to eliminate forestry in BC?
The New Forest Act is about logging within nature’s limits and making forestry accountable. It ensures harvesting happens at levels ecosystems can support, so the jobs it provides can continue for the long term.
Does the New Forest Act create job losses?
It protects forestry jobs by preventing the overcutting that leads to mill closures. It also supports new jobs in restoration, conservation, value-added manufacturing, and local forest management.
How does the New Forest Act proposal address Indigenous rights and title?
Before addressing this question, it’s important to clarify that the New Forest Act is designed to repair the provincial system that governs public forests.
The New Forest Act is a focused legislative proposal to reform how forests on Crown land are managed in British Columbia. Indigenous rights and title are complex legal matters that require their own dedicated process, and are resolved through court decisions, treaty negotiations, and government-to-government agreements.
At this time, we must address the jurisdictional reality we are faced with: provincial forest governance operates under existing laws that assign decision-making authority to the provincial government. The NFA is designed to fix that governance structure now, so that all communities- including Indigenous communities – can benefit from healthier forest ecosystems, stronger economies, and better decision-making. Rights and title issues continue to be addressed through separate and appropriate channels.
How do Indigenous communities benefit from the New Forest Act?
The New Forest Act creates a stronger, more accountable system for managing provincial forests. This benefits all communities, including Indigenous communities, by improving ecosystem function, protecting watersheds, and supporting local economies.
A reformed governance structure means decisions are made closer to the ground, with more transparency and public oversight. This makes it easier for Indigenous communities to engage with decisions that affect their territories. They will be able to independently have a say, rather than being vulnerable to the influence and control of industry consultants who are not members of their community. The NFA will also benefit subsistence economies that require intact functioning ecosystems like properly flowing rivers and large areas of wildlife habitat. The NFA’s zoning protects large, linked areas of primary forest and restores broken corridors, so species can survive and thrive instead of getting trapped in shrinking patches.
While Indigenous rights and title are addressed through separate legal and political processes, the NFA works within the current jurisdictional reality to create better conditions for collaboration and long-term stewardship.
How is the New Forest Act different from the government’s Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health (BEH) Framework?
The BEH Framework is still just that – a draft framework of principles the government released in 2023 and has yet to even finalize, let alone turn into law. It sets broad goals but leaves the details for later – it’s a plan to make a plan. The New Forest Act, by contrast, is a fully developed legislative proposal: it names the laws to be repealed, installs new governance structures (a Ministry of Ecosystem Integrity, Community Forest Boards, and an independent Office of the Forester General), and lays out a clear transition plan and land management model. Most importantly, the NFA puts decision-making in the hands of the people and communities who live with the consequences of industrial forestry, while the BEH leaves control in the same centralized top-down system.
How can I help?
You can donate, share the campaign, volunteer your skills, or arrange a meeting with your MLA. Every action helps build momentum for real change.