November 3, 2021
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Yesterday, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy announced the province’s identification of 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in B.C. that could potentially be deferred if First Nations agree, as recommended by the technical advisory panel formed in June. While deferrals are a step in the right direction to protect BC’s big treed, ancient, and rare old growth, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is extremely concerned that old growth remains unprotected today, and that the Province has passed responsibility to First Nations without providing financial support for Nations to replace any revenues that might be lost if they choose to defer logging old growth in their territory.