Prince George based non-profit, Conservation North has released a province-wide map that outlines the cumulative impact industrial logging has on both old-growth and primary forests.
“We wanted people to have a birds-eye view of all the impacts that industrial logging has across BC,” explained Michelle Connolly, Director of Conservation North, “everyone has been in a car ride and has seen the forest from the road but we often can’t see what’s going on behind the beauty trip on the side of the highway.”
Primary Forests are described by the group as forests that have never been disturbed by industry and where natural processes dominate.
Connolly explained that not all primary forest is old, but all old-growth is primary forest.
Another interactive map called ‘Seeing Red’ was released, which uses data from both the provincial and federal governments to show where there are opportunities to conserve primary forests.
According to Jenn Matthews, Conservation North Outreach Coordinator, the maps are the first of their kind that is available to the public eye.
She also claims they are instrumental in showing the public the impact that different forms of land conversion such as agriculture and road development have on BC forests.
“The BC government made a public commitment to protect old-growth forests and we’d like to see them follow through because especially in Northern BC industrial logging is happening very fast and eliminating some really important habitats for wildlife,” said Connolly.
Last September, the BC Government announced they will be protecting nine areas of Old Growth areas in the province, totalling nearly 353,000 hectares of land.
A BC Government news release stated the protection of these areas will include engaging with Indigenous leaders and organizations, labour, industry and environmental groups to conserve biodiversity while supporting jobs and communities.
The announcement followed the Ministry of Forest’s presentation of the ‘ New Future for Old Forests’ report meant to guide an overhaul of forestry rules.
“We want the government to pay attention to the North and pass a policy that would permanently protect some of our old-growth and primary forests in the region,” added Connolly.