B.C.’s private forests aren’t subject to the same logging regulations as those on public land — putting old growth, wildlife habitat and significant ecosystems at risk
Read moreThe Narwhal: Did B.C. keep its old-growth forest promises?
It’s been four years since a pair of professional foresters hired by the BC NDP government urged the province to take a radically new approach to old-growth forests.
In their strategic review, Garry Merkel and Al Gorley said the government should manage B.C.’s old forests as ecosystems rather than a source of timber. They also called for an immediate deferral of logging in old-growth forests in B.C. at risk of irreversible biodiversity loss.
Read moreHa-Shilth-Sa: Mowachaht/Muchalaht awarded $15 million to protect old growth and salmon
A project to protect a significant portion of Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory has been pledged $15-million from the federal government, fueling an initiative to save old growth and salmon populations in Nootka Sound over the next generation.
On Oct. 30 Canada’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change sent a letter to Eric Angel, project manager for the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation’s Salmon Parks initiative. This confirmed over $15 million in funding for the project, payable up to March 31, 2026.
Read moreNational Observer: The U.S. is banning old-growth logging. Why can’t we? (national Observer)
The U.S. has pledged to ban old-growth logging, but protecting Canada's ancient forests won't be as simple, stakeholders say.
Read moreBiodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework - Public Input Guide
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework - Public Input Guide
The following info will help you write your own submission to the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework public input process, which is due by January 31st, 2024. Send your submission in your own words to the
Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Ministry of WLRS): biodiversity.ecosystemhealth@gov.bc.ca
Read moreThe Narwhal (Opinion): Is B.C. finally getting real about protecting nature? (The Narwhal)
A historic turning point in how the province prioritizes conservation over industry profits also shows Indigenous Rights and protecting biodiversity go hand-in-hand
Read moreGlobe and Mail: ‘Salmon parks’ in traditional First Nations territory aim to save habitats by stopping old-growth logging
Celina Starnes, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance’s Operations and Outreach Director, looks up at the big-leaf maple grove of the Burman River valley, which lies within the Mowachaht/Muchalaht salmon-park system. Photo Credit: TJ Watt
New plan from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, aided by the B.C. and federal governments, signals a shift in Indigenous-led conservation across the province
Backed by a $15.2-million commitment from the federal government, a First Nations community on the west coast of Vancouver Island intends to buy out forestry tenures to stop old-growth logging in selected watersheds around Nootka Sound.
Read moreGlobal TV: Draft policy could be a game-changer for B.C. old-growth protection, conservationist says
This draft policy is being described as a "game changer" in efforts to protect B.C.'s old growth forests. As Paul Johnson reports, conservationists are welcoming a draft plan from the provincial government that would not only consider the economic but also the ecological value of our forests.
Read moreCBC - BC'S Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, Conservation Financing and Old-Growth Forests with Ken Wu- On the Island with Gregor Craigie
Today's CBC Interview with the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance’s (Note: Not the Ancient Forest Alliance) executive director Ken Wu on the newly announced Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, the potential ecosystem-based protection targets that it may usher in, and how it relates to the new conservation financing funds in BC worth over $1 billion…and what it all means for old-growth forests.
Read moreMedia Release: BC Opens the Door for a Potential Paradigm Shift in Conservation: Prioritizing the Most Endangered Ecosystems via Ecosystem-Based Targets
Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director, Ken Wu, stands amongst the spectacular yet unprotected ancient forests of the Mossome Grove near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.
If done right, conservationists say the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework (BEHF) could ensure the protection of the most endangered and least protected ecosystems, such as big-treed old-growth forests (“high productivity” old-growth forests with the classic forest giants) and diverse valley bottom and low elevation ecosystems - rather than the status quo of primarily protecting areas of low timber values (alpine, subalpine, bog). Conservationists commend the vision in the draft framework for being a potentially revolutionary game-changer in conservation - the devil will be in the details when the framework is completed in the spring.
Read moreEarly November 2023 BC Old-growth and Protected Area Policies Update
See 3 small update videos on where BC old-growth and protected area policies are at as of early November 2023
$1billion for BC Conservation! Next steps…. BC Old Growth Policy Overview
$1 Billion BC Nature Agreement must be guided by Ecosystem-Based Targets!
Year end Grassroots Fundraising Goal!
Top: Old-growth temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island; Middle: Aspen Parkland ecosystem in Saskatchewan; Bottom: Hardwood swamp forest along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.
Hello friends, please help us reach our Year End fundraising goal of raising $100,000 (tax receipts provided, and donations of securities also accepted).
We have just landed a $1.1 billion BC-federal protected areas funding agreement, the BC Nature Agreement, after years of intense campaign work emphasizing the centrality of conservation financing to support First Nations protected areas initiatives! We continue to work to close the loopholes in BC old-growth and protected areas policies, including by ensuring ecosystem-based protection targets, protected areas standards and integrity, funding for Indigenous old-growth deferrals, and other key policies to save the most endangered and least protected ecosystems.
Read moreA billion dollars for nature in B.C. as long-awaited agreement is signed (The Narwhal)
The tripartite nature agreement comes with new and old funding to protect old-growth forests, species at risk
Federal, provincial and First Nations leaders gathered against the backdrop of Burrard Inlet Friday to announce a long-awaited nature agreement that promises further protections for old-growth forests and at-risk species.
Read moreBillion Dollar Nature Agreement Announced will Supercharge Protected Areas Expansion in BC!
Conservationists thanked the BC and federal governments for the $1.1 billion launch of the BC Nature Agreement. The federal government has provided $500 million and BC is providing $563 million from diverse funding sources - now purposed towards achieving BC’s 30% by 2030 nature protection, conservation, and restoration goals via First Nations conservation agreements.
The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) and Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are greatly applauding the BC and federal governments and the First Nations Leadership Council for launching the BC Nature Agreement, with $1.1 billion in funding to start, to help achieve BC’s minimum protected areas target of protecting 30% by 2030 of its land area. The tripartite agreement, negotiated between the BC government, federal government, and the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), comes with a $563 contribution from the province and a $500 million federal contribution. The fund will continue to grow with major contributions from the philanthropic community and potentially from future government budgets over time.
New $300M fund aims to protect old-growth forests, other natural spaces in B.C. from development (CBC News)
Premier says fund represents modern stewardship between government, First Nations, conservationists, industry
B.C. has announced a new $300-million fund to protect threatened ecosystems in the province.
Read more‘The money that’s needed’: B.C. announces $300-million Indigenous conservation fund to protect old-growth forests (The Narwhal)
The new funding is welcomed by conservation groups that say the province has voiced support for old forest protections while continuing to allow clearcut logging in rare ecosystems and in the habitat of endangered species
Read moreB.C.'s $300M old-growth fund puts First Nations 'in the driver's seat' (Time Colonist)
$300-million investment aims to save B.C.'s old-growth forests by offering First Nations sustainable economic alternatives to industrial logging.
Read moreMedia Release: BC Launches Vital Conservation Financing Mechanism to Protect Old-Growth Forests and Ecosystems
Endangered Ecosystems Alliance Executive Director, Ken Wu, stands beside a giant Sitka spruce tree in an old-growth forest west of Lake Cowichan in Ditidaht territory.
BC Launches Vital Conservation Financing Mechanism to Protect Old-Growth Forests and Ecosystems
Starting with an initial $300 million of provincial and philanthropic funding, the indispensable fund that will “fuel” or power the creation of new protected areas by supporting First Nations protected areas initiatives will continue to grow with additional federal, provincial, and private funds. Conservationists give thanks to Premier Eby for fulfilling a key commitment.
Read moreOctober Fundraising Goal - Please Help!
Hello friends, please help us reach our October fundraising goal of raising $50,000 (tax receipts provided, and donations of securities also accepted - see below).
We are a small but powerful organization that punches far above our weight! However, we have not fundraised nearly enough this year - having been over-the-top busy campaigning, which is what our supporters want. But we need significantly more funds ASAP to fund our staff and projects, so we can continue to undertake major engagement with First Nations, non-traditional allies (businesses, faith, outdoor recreation groups, etc), government and the general public, to document endangered ecosystems in the field, to do vital policy analyses and writing, and to undertake major social and news media engagement to reach millions of Canadians.
Please DONATE here as generously as you can - we guarantee you that your funds will do great things for this planet!
Read moreBC Old-Growth Summary videos
See our video series summarizing BC old-growth policy progress and the loopholes that still must get closed:
And see our most recent media release on the BC old-growth situation
And our earlier submission to the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework (if you are a real policy wonk who wants to understand how things work).