Environment Minister Mary Polak introduced legislation that, if passed, will add more than 1,500 hectares to B.C.'s protected areas system, one of the largest in North America.

The new allowable annual cut for the Williams Lake Timber Supply Area has been reduced from 5.77 million cubic metres to three million cubic metres.

The B.C. government is continuing to protect old-growth forests and enhance biodiversity by establishing 79 old growth management areas under the Oil and Gas Activities Act.

The B.C. government has taken another step to promote biodiversity and protect old-growth forests by creating an additional 329 old growth management areas.

Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman have issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project, which is located in northern B.C., starting near Dawson Creek and ending in Kitimat.

A review of land use planning around Burns Lake has determined that altering land use objectives in the area would provide little benefit to the region's timber supply and increase the risk to important environmental values.

Another milestone was reached with environmental groups and forest companies jointly submitting proposals to increase conservation, while maintaining economic activity in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Comments are being accepted until Feb. 3, 2014, on a public discussion paper released today as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Robson Valley timber supply area (TSA).