The Province is making progress on the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel in partnership with First Nations, with the vast majority of First Nation rights and title holders having expressed that they want to engage on old-growth management in their territories.

The Province is finalizing deferrals with those First Nations that indicated support for immediately deferring harvest of at-risk old growth forests, continuing discussions with those that requested more time before making a decision, and ensuring that comprehensive supports are in place for workers and communities that may be impacted.

“Our forests are part of who we are as British Columbians. We’re working in partnership with First Nations rights and title holders to implement additional deferrals of B.C.’s most at-risk old-growth forests and to develop a new approach to sustainable forest management,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “We recognize there is a diversity of perspectives on this issue and some First Nations are more involved in forestry. In line with our new vision for forest care, the steps we are taking together today will ensure we can all share the benefits of our forests for generations to come.”

In November 2021, government announced its intention to work in partnership with First Nations rights and title holders to defer harvest of ancient, rare and priority large stands of old growth within 2.6 million hectares of B.C.’s most at-risk old-growth forests – equal to 6,400 Stanley Parks. During the past month, the Province contacted all 204 First Nations in British Columbia and asked them to indicate what steps they are interested in taking on the proposed deferrals, whether that is:

• implementing immediate deferrals within their respective territories;
• discussing deferrals through existing treaties, agreements, or other government-to-government arrangements; and/or
• if they require further time and engagement, including to incorporate local and Indigenous knowledge into the maps.

Despite many communities being impacted by recent extreme weather events, responses were received by 161 First Nations. Almost all First Nations that responded expressed interest in engaging with the Province on old-growth management. In addition, many expressed interest in managing forests in support of broader, related values, including wildlife habitat, cultural practices, clean water, healthy salmon populations and species at risk.

The Province is working to finalize deferrals with First Nations that indicated support for immediate deferrals. Deferrals can be implemented in two ways: by licensees agreeing to voluntarily pause harvest; or by a minister’s order under Part 13 of the Forest Act, rescinding approved permits and preventing new permits from being issued. Deferrals will be announced as soon as they are implemented.

“The Huu-ay-aht First Nation will partner with the Province to defer 96% of the old growth recommended by the technical advisory panel within our Ḥahuułi (Traditional Territory) and Tree Farm Licence 44 while we work towards an Integrated Resource Management Plan for 2023,” said Chief Robert J. Dennis Jr. of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. “This will ensure sufficient old forest is protected, while we complete our resource-management planning process and make our long-term forest and resource stewardship decisions.”

To support the deferral process, BC Timber Sales has paused advertising and selling licences in areas that overlap with the 2.6 million hectares of B.C.’s most at-risk old-growth forests. This pause covers almost 570,000 hectares or roughly one-quarter of the deferral areas recommended by the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel.

Roughly half of the 2.6 million hecatres of at-risk old growth is outside the Timber Harvesting Land Base and not threatened by logging for the foreseeable future. There are only approximately 50,000 hectares that overlap with the priority deferral areas with previously approved cutting permits, or 1.9% of the total. A harvesting permit can take on average 12 to 18 months to conclude. Many forestry companies have indicated to the Province that they will not proceed with harvesting these areas while discussions with First Nations are ongoing.

“These deferrals allow us to maintain options that could otherwise be irreversibly lost as we develop the new approach to sustainable forest management that prioritizes ecosystem health and community prosperity throughout B.C.” said Garry Merkel, co-author Old Growth Strategic Review. “They are also being implemented in a way that respects input that Al Gorley and I heard from the overwhelming majority of those we spoke to – in partnership with Indigenous Nations.”

The vast majority of First Nations have expressed an interest in engaging further and indicated they require more time to review the shared technical information and/or to incorporate local and Indigenous knowledge on the proposed deferral areas prior to making a decision. Many First Nations with existing treaties, agreements or other government-to-government agreements have indicated these are the preferred avenues to continue this engagement.

New capacity funding of up to $12.69 million over three years is available to support First Nations in these engagements and in developing a new approach to managing old-growth forests as described in the Old Growth Strategic Review.

The Province is bringing together co-ordinated and comprehensive supports for workers, communities and First Nations to offset any economic impacts that may follow from new restrictions on harvesting old growth forests.

“As a former pulp mill worker and someone who witnessed the forestry downturn in the early 2000s, I know how hard it can be for families and communities impacted by job losses,” Conroy said. “Unlike the previous government, we will ensure comprehensive supports are in place for workers and communities as we work together to build a more sustainable forestry industry and shift to more value-added, made-in-B.C. manufacturing.”

The Province is making nearly $19 million in new funding available for the remainder of 2021-22 to provide enhanced supports to eligible workers, contractors and communities as deferrals are implemented. These include:

• the Forestry Employment Program to provide short-term employment opportunities for impacted contractors and their employees;
• Community Transition Rapid Response Teams to provide on-the-ground economic development and community support services; and.
• Bridging to Retirement funds to support eligible workers and contractors 55 and older with up to $75,000 to transition to retirement, helping to open up jobs for younger workers.

The Province is also developing new programs that will support forestry workers and communities over the next three years, to be announced in the new year. These programs will support workers in finding new jobs and careers, including through education and skills training. They will also help industry innovate and create jobs through value-added forestry and made-in-B.C. manufacturing, provide strategic advisory services to rural businesses, and support infrastructure and economic development projects in rural communities to create new jobs. Government will also establish an internal office to co-ordinate across ministries and drive forward rural economic opportunities and diversification.

To provide advice on program development and implementation, the Province will be striking a forestry worker and community supports advisory council. The council will include industry, labour, Indigenous and municipal leaders, and will help ensure programs are targeted and providing supports where they are need most. The council will complement the engagement already underway.

Quick Facts:

• B.C. is home to 11.1 million hectares of old growth; 3.5 million hectares of old growth is protected.
• As recommended by the Old Growth Strategic Review, deferrals are a temporary measure to prevent irreversible biodiversity loss while First Nations, the Province and other partners develop a new approach to sustainable forest management that prioritizes ecosystem health and community resiliency throughout B.C.
• Since September 2020, in partnerships with First Nations, government has also made 11 temporary deferrals encompassing nearly 200,000 hectares of old-growth forest.
• The Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel identified 2.6 million hectares (equivalent to 6,400 Stanley Parks) of B.C.’s most at-risk old-growth forests for deferral. This includes:
  • big-tree old growth: 1.7 million hectares;
  • ancient old growth: 400,000 hectares; and
  • rare old growth: 500,000 hectares.

Learn More:

B.C.’s new approach to old growth management: www.gov.bc.ca/oldgrowth

B.C.’s vision to modernize forest policy: www.gov.bc.ca/modernforestpolicy

Support for forestry workers and communities: https://forestryworkersupport.gov.bc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.