BC municipalities back push to protect Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests

The Union of BC Municipalities is throwing its weight behind a call to do more to protect old-growth forests on Vancouver Island.

UBCM delegates passed a resolution by a wide margin at their annual general meeting in Victoria today.

The resolution agreed upon by representatives of BC cities, towns and regional district councils calls on the province to amend the 1994 Vancouver Island Land Use Plan to protect remaining old-growth forests.

Conservationists celebrated the move.

“This is a huge leap forward in the campaign to protect the remaining old–growth forests on Vancouver Island, ” said Ken Wu, executive director of the Ancient Forest Alliance.

“Their preferred policy of logging until the end of our unprotected ancient forests is not sustainable – not only for endangered species and tourism, but ultimately for BC’s forestry workers.”

Wu adds that on BC’s southern coast, satellite photos show that at least 75% of the original, productive old–growth forests have been logged, including well over 90% of the valley bottoms where the largest trees grow.

Read more: https://www.cheknews.ca/bc-municipalities-back-224275/