HAZELTON, B.C. — The British Columbia government says it’s taking a new and more all-encompassing approach to protecting the province’s old-growth forests.
Forests Minister Doug Donaldson says the government wants to break from the past — when forestry decisions led to confrontations — and fully involve environmental groups, Indigenous leaders, forest companies, labour organizations and communities while working together to protect forests and support jobs.
He says B.C. must do a better job of finding ways to protect forests while saving jobs.
Donaldson says the province will immediately defer timber harvesting in nine old-growth areas, totalling almost 3,530 square kilometres.
In July 2019, B.C. announced a panel to conduct an independent strategic review of old-growth forests, which resulted in a report containing 14 recommendations.
B.C.’s Wilderness Committee says in a statement the government’s announcement represents a significant opportunity to protect the province’s remaining old-growth forests.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2020.
The Canadian Press
