The message is clear, John Horgan: protect BC forests!
June 2019
On June 6, concerned local residents demonstrated outside seventeen MLA and government offices in a follow-up to February’s joint letter delivery. Together, we demanded science-based protection of B.C.’s old-growth forests, improved forest management and support for First Nations that seek to protect more forest.
People of all ages came together for this Day of Action in Oliver, Campbell River, Sidney, Duncan, Courtenay-Comox, Parksville, Nanaimo, Langford, Langley, Nelson, Prince George, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.
Thanks to all who raised their voices and to MLAs who took the time to engage in important discussions about the health of these vital ecosystems. Specifically, George Heyman and Doug Routley came out to speak with demonstrators about the state of forests. We’re excited to keep this ball rolling!
Supporters chimed in across social media to demand forest action while others took to the streets. The events drew significant media coverage, province-wide and locally, including this great piece by GlobalTV:
Nice 2 C that @DougRoutley17 wants to be a part of the solution to #OldGrowth logging and intends to #SaveOldGrowth. Let’s go from talk to action. @DonaldsonDoug @GeorgeHeyman @jjhorgan #BCpoli #TreeOfLife #BCleg #yyj #VancouverIsland @SierraClubBC @wildernews @AncientForestBC pic.twitter.com/I2EBVDls7p
— Mark Worthing (@OrcaCedarbough) June 6, 2019
"Nobody's ever home on this issue!" Crowd in front of @jjhorgan office rallying behind #SookeHills organizer J. Ocean Dennie, chanting, "No more roads through forest"#wheresHorgan #SaveOldGrowth #Sooke #portrenfrew #bcpoli #TreeOfLife @SierraClubBC pic.twitter.com/T8Iuhp2pkc
— Britton Jacob-Schram (@bjacobsc) June 6, 2019
In today’s climate and ecological crisis, it is more important than ever to take immediate steps to protect intact forests.
B.C.’s coastal temperate rainforests are among the rarest ecosystems on the planet, but today less than 10 per cent of Vancouver Island’s largest old-growth trees are left. The current rate of old-growth logging on Vancouver Island is more than thirty soccer fields per day or about 10,000 hectares a year. This logging typically uses industrial clearcutting logging practices.
The loss of BC’s last old-growth forests is threatening plants and animals, carbon storage and environmental services like clean air and clean water. Species that depend on old-growth forests will not survive as the majority of the Island is progressively covered by young, even-aged forests.
Increasing conservation and stringent forestry laws are needed to ensure communities have clean water and clean air as a basis for a diverse economy, including tourism and recreation. These steps are critical to reduce the damage from worsening climate impacts like droughts and flooding.
Gary Sutton
Louis Bockner