A forest-focused conservation group is holding a rally in Prince George tomorrow (March 26) advocating for provincial action on biodiversity in old-growth forests.
Dubbed the 'Rebellion for Forests,' the rally will feature speakers like UNBC scientists Art Fredeen and Pam Wright, along with Lheidli T’enneh singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie.
“We are holding this COVID-aware event to bring attention to the absence of leadership from Premier John Horgan on old-growth forests and biodiversity,” says Jenn Matthews, spokesperson for Conservation North.
“We’ve had two independent reports describing the dire state of primary forests and the impending biodiversity collapse. Yet we’ve seen no action from John Horgan or Katrine Conroy’s office, and this is unacceptable.”
The group says the Premier and the Minister of Forests are dragging their heels on implementing the recommendations of their own old-growth report.
The report was part of the province’s Old Growth Strategic Review, was published last April and co-written by Garry Merkel and Al Gorley, and urged B.C. to act within six months to defer harvesting in old forest ecosystems at the highest risk of permanent biodiversity loss.
The old-growth panel's report says it's projected that almost all of B.C. would be at high risk of biodiversity loss once most of the available old forest is harvested under the current management approach.
In February, Conservation North also released the first province-wide cumulative impacts map and the first visual account of the last remaining old-growth forests in the province.
“The cumulative impacts of industrial forestry and other forms of land conversion, such as agriculture and road development, have never been displayed for public view before now, despite the fact that the vast majority are occurring on public lands,” said Matthews, when the mapping projects were released.
The project shows where there are opportunities to conserve primary forests, as well as where management for restoration and/or production of wood products are a better option.
“Without strong and decisive leadership on old-growth we will all lose in the north. Not just wildlife but our communities,” explains Conservation North Director Michelle Connolly.
Conservation North is a Prince George-based volunteer group that launched in 2017 to advocate for the protection of wild plants, animals, and their habitats in northern B.C.
The 'Rebellion for Forests' rally starts at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the public square on 1142 5 Ave. next to the Wood Innovation and Design Centre building.
- with files from Rob Brown, Dawson Creek Mirror, and The Canadian Press
