For those of you concerned about the fate of old-growth forests in BC:
Yesterday, for the first time the BC government dedicated a significant sum in the provincial budget - $185 million over 3 years - to help protect old-growth forests in BC!
While still insufficient - likely constituting about one-third at best of the needed provincial financial contribution required to protect old-growth forests across BC (with the federal government still thus far providing the bulk of available funding) - it is a major step forward from their previous position of committing pretty much $zilch in concrete funding for First Nations' alternative economic development linked to old-growth logging deferrals and new protected areas! Honestly, we were expecting them to commit nothing again in this budget, but they pleasantly surprised us by taking an important and fairly serious step forward to help make old-growth forest protection possible on a significant scale.
They do need to go substantially farther yet - but make no mistake: it is the thousands of British Columbians including 30,000 Endangered Ecosystems Alliance supporters who have spoken up thus far specifically for this critical funding, along with the voices of First Nations old-growth protection advocates, who have helped pushed the reluctant BC government this far now on the key funding. This is progress.
Since Day 1, EEA has emphasized the absolute centrality of funding from government for "conservation financing" support for First Nations sustainable economic development linked to new Indigenous Protected Areas and other old-growth protection initiatives.
The key facts we have emphasized include:
Across BC, old-growth forests are on the unceded lands of diverse First Nations, who are decision-makers legally on par at the least with the provincial government in determining what land use activities can take place in their territories.
Protected areas including protecting old-growth thus legally requires First Nations support,
Many First Nations communities are heavily invested in the old-growth timber industry for major revenues and jobs due to successive BC governments helping to foster this dependency,
First Nations therefore require critical funding to help build an alternative sustainable economy in tourism, sustainable seafood, clean energy, non-timber forest products (eg. wild mushrooms), and value-added sustainable second-growth forestry, that will enable them to forgo old-growth logging revenues and to protect old-growth forests on a major scale,
The BC government, who are fully responsible for BC forest policies, including the requisite funding to carry out these policies, is primarily responsible to ensure this "conservation financing" funding for First Nations.
We have been saying that the provincial government must provide at least $300 million over the next 2 years to support First Nations old-growth logging deferrals, land use plans, protected areas, and the associated sustainable economic development. This sum does not include significant additional funding needed from the province to support forestry workers and contractors and their legal obligations to compensate forestry licensees. The provincial funding also would conjoin the roughly $300 million or so that the federal government is making available to help expand protected areas in BC. In addition, we are working in collabartion with other conservation groups to raise additional private philanthropic funds of many millions (a project we will write about to you soon) to add to this $600 million in needed governmental funds for Indigenous-led old-growth protection initiatives, for land trusts to purchase old-growth forests on private lands, and to fill other funding gaps.
The new provincial funding of $185 million includes funding to support BC forestry workers, contractors and companies mixed in with support for First Nations, and it is unclear how much is specifically available for First Nations alone - perhaps half of this total, ie. Which is why we are guestimating that at most it is about 1/3rd of the $300 million we are expecting the province to fund First Nations old-growth protection initiatives. Missing from the new provincial budget are also the $tens of millions that are needed to purchase old-growth forests on private lands.
Another positive sign that the BC government is increasingly serious about protecting old-growth forests now is that for the first time they are planning a reduction in the total Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) this year partly attributable to anticipated old-growth logging deferrals. Numerous studies show that new protected areas, including the protection of old-growth forests, helps to attract and foster a more diverse, resilient, and ultimately prosperous economy in tourism, recreation, real estate, and high-tech industries among many others.
While still inadequate, things are moving forward to enable major old-growth forest protection in BC. But make no mistake - it is because tens of thousands of British Columbians and Canadians have been speaking up for the protection of these magnificent old-growth forests, including calling for the indispensible funding needed to make this happen, and due to the amazing hard work of First Nations old-growth champions in communities across BC. But time is of essence as these magnificent ancient forests continue to fall. Please keep speaking up and watch for forthcoming calls to action!
Top and bottom photos of gargantuan old-growth Sitka spruce on southern Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory by TJ Watt.
