fbpx

Tag Archive for: old growth

Posts

After disappointing Climate Summit, B.C. government should stop obstructing Indigenous-led climate solutions

/in , , /by

The Nuchatlaht Nation’s land claim is one of the few rays of hope to come out from COP26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 18, 2021

Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ (VANCOUVER, BC) and Glasgow — After a disappointing conclusion to COP26 in Glasgow that will make it harder to achieve the 1.5°C goal established in the Paris Agreements, representatives from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Sierra Club BC and the Nuchatlaht Nation that attended the climate summit in the U.K. are calling on the B.C. government to step aside and stop opposing Indigenous-led climate solutions.

The divisive summit comes to an end as unprecedented amounts of rain, flooding and mudslides wreak havoc across southern B.C., closing highways, prompting widespread evacuations and leaving people stranded, only months after the deadliest heatwave in B.C.’s recorded history.

Despite this, the B.C. government’s plans for at-risk old-growth protection and CleanBC, while good intentioned, fail to provide the level of ambition needed to ensure that targets are met and that ecosystem collapse is avoided. The lack of actionable timelines and funding for a just transition will only pave the way for more old-growth logging, more oil and gas expansion and, as a result, more environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate risks like flooding, droughts, watershed damage and wildfires. Fugitive emissions from B.C.’s LNG industry are significantly underestimated using existing monitoring requirements, and the massive emissions from forest management are excluded from the annually reported provincial emissions inventory altogether.

“While the B.C. government is in Glasgow receiving unwarranted praise as a climate leader, they continue to fight First Nations in court, destroy endangered species habitat, log high-carbon density old-growth forests and build fossil fuel pipelines across Indigenous territories in violation of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People,” said Mark Worthing, coastal projects lead at Sierra Club BC.

One ray of hope that emerged during COP26 came from Indigenous-led climate solutions that were presented during the two-week summit. One of these is the Nuchatlaht Nation’s title case and Salmon Parks initiative for which the Nation is taking the B.C. government to court in a bid to win back 20,000 hectares of their territory on Nootka Island. This project was presented during COP26 by Nuchatlaht Nation Tyee Haa’wilth Jordan Michael and representatives from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and Sierra Club BC.

“Our land claim decision can set a precedent for Indigenous people across Canada. And if our small tribe of about 160 people can set in motion change that affects our entire country, think about what 160 nations working together could do to impact change in our world to solve climate change,” said Tyee Haa’wilth Jordan Michael from the Nuchatlaht Nation.

“For generations, First Nations have been excluded from making decisions about the fate of our own lands and resources in this province, resulting in mismanagement of much of the old-growth forests here. With only a tiny fraction of BC’s old growth remaining, the province must work with Nations to ensure that these crucial wild salmon habitats and carbon stores have a future as living ecosystems and not as products Without providing funds to First Nations to replace any potential lost revenues if they proceed with deferrals, the Province is seeking consent by coercion. What kind of a choice do Nations really have if they are going to lose critical revenue when they choose deferrals?” said Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, secretary treasurer at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

“Indigenous people have always known how to take care of our salmon. We have always known how to have a good relationship with forests. Biodiversity, old-growth and carbon-rich ecosystems can’t wait any longer for colonial governments’ weak or false solutions. We’re taking matters into our own hands now. We’re taking land back,” added Tlalita’las – Karissa Glendale, forest relations coordinator at Sierra Club BC and a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw.

Sierra Club BC and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs are calling for the B.C. government to take real action to mitigate the climate emergency that is causing widespread destruction and biodiversity loss in the province by stopping old-growth logging, ending oil and gas expansion and embracing Indigenous-led climate solutions and reconciliation.

 

-30-

 

Media contacts:

Tyee Haa’wilth Jordan Michael | Nuchatlaht Nation
+12508954396, Jmichael.Nuchatlaht@gmail.com

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson | Secretary Treasurer, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
C/O 778-866-0548, judy@ubcic.bc.ca

Tlalita’las – Karissa Glendale | Forest Relations Coordinator at Sierra Club BC
+1 (250) 974-4209, tlalitalas@sierraclub.bc.ca

Mark Worthing | Coastal Projects Lead at Sierra Club BC
+12508893575, mark@sierraclub.bc.ca

 

 

Photo: Ana Pessoa

Sierra Club BC media availability on last day of COP26 and what it means for B.C.

/in , , , , /by

November 12, 2021

Please be advised that Sierra Club BC’s Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner Jens Wieting is available to comment on the emerging UN agreements from COP26, scheduled to end today, and what they mean for B.C.

“The ineffective pledges coming out of COP26 and the weak plans to fulfill them are devastating and put us on course for climate breakdown. The most important outcome of this conference is that public pressure has made it impossible to ignore the elephants in the room: climate action that actually allows for survival with a plan to end fossil fuel production; making climate justice a reality, in particular for Indigenous Peoples; and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, not as offsets, but as an indispensable pillar of climate policy,” said Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner at Sierra Club BC.

“It’s ironic for B.C. to receive an ‘Under2’ award when everything suggests that the province’s current path is a blueprint for catastrophic warming above 2 degrees. This after five years of growing climate pollution, increasing fossil fuel subsidies to expand fracking, a 2030 target inconsistent with IPCC findings, and skyrocketing uncounted forest management emissions with no target or plan to reduce them. Without addressing the elephants in the room, this province remains part of those jurisdictions that present a threat for the future of humanity, not a model for survival. As COP26 ends, the real work is only just beginning, at home,” said Wieting.

-30-

Media contact:

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, (604) 354-5312

BC old-growth announcement confirms ecological emergency

/in , , , /by

New government mapping of at-risk old-growth calls for urgent action. But the pace of change on the ground remains uncertain, which could unleash a race to the bottom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

November 2, 2021 

Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (VANCOUVER, BC) — Sierra Club BC commends the B.C. government’s new information and mapping on the state of old-growth forests in B.C. and their intention to defer logging across 2.6 million hectares of the most at-risk old-growth forests. But the organization remains very concerned about the lack of certainty on when deferrals will be implemented and funding for Indigenous Nations and forestry workers that would enable the transition.

“The work by the technical advisory panel shared today by the B.C. government shows the province’s ecological emergency in unprecedented detail and pinpoints which old-growth forests need immediate interim protection. Despite delays, it’s not too late to use this new mapping to stop the ongoing destruction of the most at-risk old-growth forests and implement the paradigm shift towards ecological integrity while respecting Indigenous jurisdiction,” said Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner at Sierra Club BC.

“Making the paradigm shift a reality will depend on quickly offering clarity on where and when the next logging deferrals will hit the ground and what level of support communities can count on. Without these steps, today’s announcement would be equivalent to adding tigers to the red-listed species, but not ending the hunt immediately,” added Wieting.

The new provincially endorsed data and mapping show that old-growth forests cover a smaller area than previously reported: 11.1 million hectares (less than 20 percent of B.C.’s total forest area). According to the new provincial summary, about two-thirds of the remaining old-growth (7.6 million hectares) have been identified as at-risk old-growth forests. Of those 7.6 million hectares, two-thirds (5 million hectares) are unprotected. And of those unprotected at-risk stands, a little more than half (2.6 million hectares) is recommended for deferrals. The new information and mapping have also been shared with Indigenous Nations across the province.

“The significance of the new old-growth analysis and maps cannot be overstated. In the case of both the biodiversity and climate crises, using scientifically accurate information is paramount to assess risk and inform solutions. Now that this information exists, the B.C. government must show the same courage and leadership to act on these important findings,” added Wieting.

Today’s announcement also included $12.69 million in capacity funding for First Nations while they make decisions on logging deferrals in their territories, but falls short on details when it comes to transition financing to support Indigenous Nations and forestry workers and didn’t include any information on financing for Indigenous-led conservation solutions. Making the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples a reality requires adequate funding to give First Nations a real choice when it comes to ending destructive resource extraction on their lands and waters.

The province also announced that BC Timber Sales will stop selling logging licences in the most at-risk forests that were identified. BC Timber Sales controls one-fifth of logging in the province, meaning this step should result in interim protection for about 500,000 hectares of the most at-risk old-growth forests.

The province must quickly find ways to ensure that all logging companies in B.C. pause logging of any of the most at-risk old-growth forests.

“Without binding mechanisms for all operators, there is a risk that the new mapping could unleash a race to the bottom if operators decide to cut down the identified at-risk forests before interim protection is in place,” added Wieting.

Immediate reductions to the annual allowable cut while logging deferrals take effect will be needed to prevent pushing planned logging from one area into another one. Additionally, regular updates on the progress made implementing deferrals for all of the most at-risk old-growth forests is paramount to address delays and create accountability.

“For several months, international news from B.C. has been about police arresting forest defenders to clear the path for clearcutting some of the last old-growth forests on Southern Vancouver Island. The world is watching from the UN conference in Glasgow and elsewhere, eagerly waiting for news on when at-risk old-growth forests in B.C. will be truly protected,” said Wieting.

 

-30-

For more information on the data and maps provided by the Technical Advisory Panel visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/old-growth-forests/old-growth-maps

Media contact:

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, (604) 354-5312

 

 

Photo: Mya Van Woudenberg/Sierra Club BC

Sierra Club BC media availability on COP26 pledge to end deforestation by 2030 and today’s expected B.C. old-growth announcement

/in , , /by

November 2, 2021

Please be advised that Sierra Club BC’s Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner Jens Wieting is available to comment on today’s accord aimed at protecting the world’s forests and what it means for old-growth protection and forestry reforms in B.C. The B.C. government is also expected to make an announcement on old-growth forests this afternoon. Our campaigners will be available for comment.  

More than 100 countries currently gathered in Glasgow — including countries such as Brazil, Russia and China — vowed to end deforestation, but not until 2030. 

Despite growing awareness of the role forest ecosystems play in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, this accord will allow another decade of destruction. Intact forests and peatlands are natural storehouses of carbon, when they are logged, burned or drained, these ecosystems release enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. 

 “Without leadership in all forest regions of the word, the COP26 accord on protecting forests could become another empty promise. And there are few places on the planet that could contribute so much when it comes to protecting carbon-rich, endangered old-growth forests while fully respecting Indigenous jurisdiction like B.C.,” said Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner at Sierra Club BC.  

“It’s not too late for the BC. government to work with Indigenous governments to speed up implementation of the promised paradigm-shift, protect old-growth forests and transition to forest management that is centred on ecological integrity.” 

 

-30-

 

Media contact:

Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate Campaigner | Sierra Club BC
jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, (604) 354-5312

 

 

Photo: Mya Van Woudenberg/Sierra Club BC

MENU