Our Work

Protecting Forests

What’s at stake

Old-growth forests are essential to life in B.C. They provide communities with clean air and water, shelter endangered species, support B.C.’s billion-dollar tourism industry, and are culturally important to many First Nations. Plus, they’re one of our best defenses against climate change as they store massive amounts of carbon and are more resilient to disasters like wildfires, flooding and drought.

Forests give us so much. Yet every day more irreplaceable old growth is cut down. Right now, only a small fraction of big treed, old growth remains standing in B.C. Together, we can change that.

The challenge

Despite the invaluable services old-growth forests provide, we continue to log these irreplaceable ecosystems at alarming rates. Based on the latest data, 160 soccer fields of old-growth forests are logged each day in B.C. Climate change is making their recovery even harder as more swathes of forests are lost to worsening droughts, wildfires and disease outbreaks.

It takes centuries for old-growth forests to develop their complex structures. They are essentially non-renewable ecosystems, especially as most cutblocks in B.C. are clear-cut every 60 years. That’s why protecting the few ancient forests we have left and allowing young stands to grow older is so important.

We know that B.C. can sustain communities and protect the last remaining old-growth forests. Will you join the thousands of people speaking up for forests?

Did you know?

160 soccer fields of old-growth forests are logged each day in B.C.

1/2

of the most endangered old-growth forests are still at risk of clearcut logging in B.C.

85%

of British Columbians think old growth should be protected

Thankfully, solutions do exist.

Here’s four things we’re advocating for that can help turn things around:

Implementing a paradigm shift in forest stewardship to prioritize ecosystem health over timber value alone
Getting B.C. to enact a law prioritizing biodiversity and protecting at-risk species and ecosystems, like old-growth forests
Working with First Nations to double the area of protected lands in B.C. to 30% by 2030
Funding for communities to transition to sustainable economic alternatives

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Here’s what Sierra Club BC is doing to make these forest solutions a reality

Advocating for old-growth protection and forestry reforms

Empowering local leaders to take action for forests with their networks

Releasing hard-hitting scientific reports

Supporting Indigenous-led solutions

Raising public awareness

Educating youth about environmental stewardship

Re-connecting people with intact forests

Recent progress for forests

Thanks to years of public pressure, the B.C. government committed to protect old growth and implement a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship to value ecosystem health over timber values (part of B.C.’s 2020 Old Growth Strategic Review, “A new Future for Old Forests”).
First Nations and the provincial government agreed to defer logging in of the most at-risk old-growth forests in B.C.
First Nations are working with the governments of B.C. and Canada to double the area of protected lands to 30% by 2030. This includes a $1 billion investment in conservation through the Nature Agreement.
Thanks to Indigenous leadership and public pressure, in 2024 300,000 hectares of new Indigenous-led protected areas were announced including old-growth forests in Clayoquot Sound and the Interior.
Sierra Club BC reached over one million people through our media stories on forests and other environmental issues.