The BC Government is undertaking an Old Growth Strategic Review, and has appointed a two-person panel to consult with people throughout the province, and provide a report to the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRO).
We encourage you to contact the panel to express your views on the ecological, economic and cultural importance of old-growth trees and forests. Let’s use this opportunity to make it clear that we urgently need to protect our old-growth trees NOW!
The panel includes two professional foresters: Garry Merkel, and Al Gorley. They’re asking British Columbians:
- What old growth means to you and how you value it
- Your perspective on how old growth is managed now
- How you think old growth could be managed more effectively in the future
There are 3 ways to make your voice heard:
1) Request to meet with the panel in person or by phone or video call. They will be visiting Powell River on Thursday, December 5th, and Sechelt on Friday, December 6th.
2) Fill out the online questionnaire.
3) Email a written submission to the panel to: oldgrowthbc@gov.bc.ca. Click here for their submission guidelines.
Visit the BC Government website for more information on the review process. The review process continues until JANUARY 31, 2020 at 4 pm.
For more information on the importance of old-growth trees and forests, check out the excellent resources put together by these organizations:
Sierra Club BC:
- National Observer: Debunking old-growth forest claims in BC
- Old-growth backgrounder
- 92% of British Columbians support taking action to protect old-growth
- Forest Campaign website
- Forest Webinar series
Ancient Forest Alliance: Before & After Old-Growth Maps
Wilderness Committee: Protecting Old-Growth resource page