From old-growth forests to grasslands, rainforests to dry forests, alpine mountaintops to rich valley bottoms – BC has the greatest diversity of ecosystems in Canada. The newly re-elected BC NDP government has an opportunity to ensure the protection of these globally renowned ecosystems for our health and well-being, to support a more sustainable, diversified economy, to support First Nations cultures, and to avert the extinction and climate crises.
BC must develop a provincial Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) where they proactively work with First Nations to protect priority ecosystems, such as those most endangered and least protected, including the last big-tree old-growth forests in the province.
The province must also:
- Develop science-based targets to protect all ecosystems, known as “Ecosystem-Based Targets.”
- Provide “solutions space” funding for First Nations to defer logging in old-growth forests where they have revenues from timber operations.
- Close logging loopholes in conservation reserves like Old-Growth Management Areas (OGMAs) and Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs).
- Implement greater incentives and regulations to ensure a sustainable, value-added, modernized, second-growth forest industry.
- Develop a Conservation-Based Economy Strategy of incentives and other support for new businesses to take advantage of an expanding protected areas system to scale up a modernized, sustainable and diversified economy.
Please SEND a MESSAGE to BC’s Elected Decision-Makers Below!