Dear Editor:
We live in Ontario but we also share concerns with other Canadians about our national treasures: our old growth forests.
The British Columbia government just came out with its long-awaited update on protection for some of the last ancient rainforests in western Canada – unfortunately, it was a mixed bag.
First, the good news: for the first time ever, an incredible 2.6 million hectares of old growth are in need of immediate logging deferrals. The government signalled their intention to protect these fragile ecosystems. But – and this is a big but – they once again delayed actually implementing these deferrals. In the meantime, 1,000-year-old trees are still falling across the province! Can you believe that, as usual, big money wins over the trees.
The people who are cutting them down don’t even see their ancient and stunning beauty. They see furniture, buildings and many other items that will never measure up to what was the wisdom and stewardship that the first of all trees share with the entire forest!
This comes a day after world leaders promised to prioritize forest protection at COP26. Forests in British Columbia, Canada are some of the most carbon-rich and biodiverse on the planet, and today’s announcement has left them on the chopping block.
Right now, we need to show the BC government that the whole world is watching as a new global climate action plan comes to fruition at the global climate summit, COP26.
Gerry Walsh,
Erin