B.C. continues to permit the destruction of old-growth forests – Canada’s National Observer
October 3rd 2022
In recent months, British Columbia’s government has made a show of protecting old-growth when really it is approving forest destruction at an alarming rate. B.C.’s grandstanding has been a jarring contrast to reality: the most at-risk old-growth forests are being cut down, while Indigenous Peoples, scientists and advocacy groups continue to call on B.C. to immediately stop logging in proposed old-growth deferral areas.
Old-growth forests not only play an integral role in the biodiversity and health of ecosystems, but also possess incalculable cultural value for First Nations who rely on old-growth for traditional purposes. Old-growth deferrals are a legal tool to stop logging activity in these irreplaceable forests, providing time for First Nations and B.C. to pursue a paradigm shift in forest management that upholds Indigenous title and rights.
