Conservation North says logging in Old-Growth areas a bad idea by province

A local environmental group is taking BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to task over comments made during last week’s COFI Convention suggesting logging in old-growth forests and provincial parks could improve wildfire resilience.

Conservation North argues logging may destabilize ecosystems, raising the risk of wildfires in our province.

Spokesperson, Michelle Connolly told Vista Radio following through with this plan would be counter-productive.

“That would very much harm the purpose of these places, which are set aside for biodiversity and wildlife. We have to remember that fires are not a novel process and natural ecosystems have gone through fires in the past and they don’t necessarily ecologically harm natural forests.”

“Wildfires are going to be fact of life as they have always been and we have to be really careful about implementing programs that might increase the chances of that happening. I am very worried about the suggestion that we should be logging old growth as a way to some how reduce the severity of wildfire is the wrong way to go,” added Connolly.

Conservation North took the biggest issue with Parmar wanting to commit to a target of harvesting 45-million cubic meters into the government’s election platform and the minister’s mandate letter.

Connolly stated many studies from Canada and the United States suggest that the narrative of logging Old Growth areas for “wildfire resilience” is false.

“Mature and old forests burn at lower severity in wildfires when compared to places that have been logged in the past.”

“The best things that we can do to protect communities is to harden against wildfire directly around communities. Research from the Pacific Northwest who have been conducting studies on community resilience to wildfires is that you can do management directly around communities but beyond that, you are not going to accomplish much.”

Connolly added Old Growth Management Areas were established to protect biodiversity and parks are important for natural and cultural values.