A gap between political promises and reality: The state of B.C.’s old-growth forests
A backbone of British Columbia's economy, the province's forestry sector is now facing a crisis: more than a century of intensive old-growth logging has pushed these forests into a state of peril. A new report commissioned by the Sierra Club BC, highlights how decades of logging, wildfires, and ineffective old-growth deferrals have left the province's primary forests at risk, incredibly fragmented and vulnerable.
Old-growth forests are critical libraries of biodiversity, as such, they must be protected and conserved. These complex ecosystems are not only ecologically rich, but are made of centuries-old trees that store a significant amount of carbon and provide critical habitat to plants, animals and microorganisms that would not be able to survive otherwise, yet many years of mismanagement has pushed these forests to the brink.
Although the province has made efforts to plant younger trees, in comparison, these younger areas lack the diversity and resilience of primary forests and are more vulnerable to disease, fire, and environmental stress. The towering old-growth trees are disappearing and getting replaced with weaker trees that provide fewer ecosystem benefits. As recently covered in the Narhwal, the evidence is clear: there is no substitute for the rich, old-growth forests.
Recent provincial efforts, such as pausing stumpage fees, speeding up permits, and investing in mills, may have offered temporary improvements, but the new report shows how these quick fix solutions are inadequate, finding that the province is running out of high-value, unlogged forests. Despite these efforts, and the NDP’s “paradigm shift” toward sustainable forestry, recent policies such as raising logging quotas continue to signal a retreat from conservation and sustainability commitments.
According to the article, roughly one-third of B.C.'s forests have been degraded or cleared. Much of the remaining primary forest is located in remote, northern regions, with smaller trees making logging less profitable and less sustainable. These vulnerable ecosystems are at a critical tipping point, with experts warning that continued pressure on these forests, combined with the failure to shift forestry practices toward ecosystem-based management, could result in irreversible damage for both the industry and the ecosystems.
Biodiversity and climate resilience depend on protecting old-growth forests, but evidence shows how quick fixes will not compensate for decades of overlogging and environmental pressures. To secure the future of B.C.’s forestry, and the rich biodiversity that only old-growth possesses, our government leaders must commit to long-term ecological stewardship and protect what remains of primary forests.
NEW BOOK COMING SOON, BY ANN DALE: Beyond the Edge: Reconciliation, Reconnection and Regeneration
Protecting old-growth is a reflection of the deeper relationship we choose to have with the natural world around us. The state of these ecosystems is rooted in our connection to land, to each other, and to future generations. These ideas are central to Ann Dale’s forthcoming book, Beyond the Edge, which advocates for protecting old-growth forests and putting an end to their destruction, as one of the recommended solutions toward a socially just, culturally rich, spiritually fulfilling, ecologically regenerative, and economically circular future. The state of the old-growth forests in B.C. embody this story by revealing the resilience and diversity that is at stake. By choosing to conserve what is irreplaceable, we are choosing a regenerative future.
Written by Sabrina Careri, for Ann Dale
A trail through a stand of 1,000-year-old 300-foot-tall giant redwood trees in the PNW. Source: Dan Meyers from Unsplash