Thanks to public outcry about how little old-growth forest remains in B.C., the newly elected provincial government has committed to a paradigm shift in how forests are managed. This task is now one of the ‘to do’ items for the new forests minister, Katrine Conroy.

This task will require leadership from day one. How will the province implement this new mandate? Will this government continue to ‘talk and log’ the last of the big old trees, or take tangible on-the-ground action to protect old-growth forests?

The biggest, tallest, and oldest trees, including ancient 1,000-year-old ones, are still being logged across the province every day. With only about 400,000 hectares of old-growth forests with big old trees remaining across all of B.C.—an area about the size of Burnaby and Surrey combined—the province needs to act now before it is too late. The forests recently (and temporarily) set aside from logging include less than 1% of these at-risk stands.

Please add your voice today to make sure B.C.’s new forests minister, Katrine Conroy, walks the talk of protecting at-risk old-growth forests by implementing and fully funding all 14 recommendations made by the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel—a blueprint for working with Indigenous governments to protect these culturally and ecologically significant forests within three years.

What happens now matters for future generations and all beings that call these forests home. Old-growth forests that support huge trees are on the brink, but together, we can protect these ancient and vibrant ecosystems.

Your letter will be sent to B.C.’s Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Katrine Conroy and cc’d to the Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Nathan Cullen and Premier John Horgan.