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Happy Earth Day from AFA! ?

The global theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet”. For years, the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and our supporters have been calling on the province to “invest in our planet” by committing significant funding toward the protection of endangered old-growth forests in BC through conservation financing.

This approach has already proven successful in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, where conservation financing has supported the creation of 123 Indigenous-led businesses, invested $122 million in local sustainable infrastructure, and diversified First Nations economies, all while creating over 1,200 jobs and infusing $63 million into local communities as salaries (see the recent Coast Funds report here).

The emergence of these conservation economies has allowed First Nations communities to transition away from resource-extractive industries like old-growth logging toward sustainable forms of employment and revenue. Additionally, these funding mechanisms provide the resources for Indigenous-led stewardship of their unceded territories.

Conservation Economy: A New Way Forward

Recent studies have shown there is greater economic value to endangered old-growth forests in BC when they’re left standing than when they’re cut down, as seen in our report on the Economic Value of Old-Growth Forests near Port Renfrew BC.

The concept of a “nature economy” is growing as well, which Global News explains in this new interactive article highlighting success stories, such as Indigenous tourism, and featuring a number of AFA photos and videos as well.

The Ancient Forest Alliance has been leading the years-long push to get the province to invest in protecting old-growth ecosystems, and we’re beginning to see the framework for success appear.

On the ground, AFA, alongside our partners at the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Nature-Based Solutions Foundation, are supporting Indigenous communities to protect approximately 355-square kilometers of highly-endangered old-growth forests through collaborations with the Kanaka Bar Indian Band to support their Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area proposal, and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation to support their Salmon Parks Initiative.

Under pressure, the BC government has now committed to creating a new conservation financing tool within the next six months that can be used to protect old-growth forests elsewhere in BC. However, thus far, the province has not allocated any of its own funding toward it.

We’re committed to doing everything in our power to invest in our planet and its old-growth ecosystems. But we can’t do it alone. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to the AFA or take one minute and send an instant message to the BC government calling on it to invest in our planet by providing funding for old-growth protection!

Earth Day is every day ?