Here’s some info on the old growth blockades (www.fairycreekblockade.com) that are in place near Port Renfrew:
Since August 10, 2020, ancient temperate rainforests in the Fairy Creek watershed (TFL 46) near Port Renfrew have been protected from Teal Jones logging crews by a rotating group of individuals. This watershed is the last intact watershed on southern Vancouver Island. Another blockade was recently established at Eden Grove to also protect it from being logged. (It was flagged by logging crews a couple of weeks ago.) There are also two watch camps, one on the way to the Walbran, which was flagged several weeks ago, and one in the Caycuse.
These blockades and watch camps are welcomed and led by Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones. Recently, Bill’s niece and Pacheedaht band member Roxy Jones added her support to the blockades.
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs also supports this movement to protect old growth in their Resolution 2020-23: ‘THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the UBCIC Chiefs-in-Assembly fully support the First Nations and allies who are protesting the negligent logging and clear-cutting practices enabled by the BC government that have undermined First Nations Title and Rights and pushed Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests to the brink of collapse…’
In the same resolution, they call upon the government to ‘take immediate and sustained action to ensure the report’s (Old Growth Strategic Review) recommendations are carried out….’ (Scroll down in this link to see Resolution 2020-23: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.
On April 30, 2020, the NDP government received the much-anticipated ‘Old Growth Strategic Review’ (OGSR) by Al Gorley and Garry Merkel. The purpose of the report is to inform the development of broad public policy regarding old growth forests .It took the government until September 11, 2020 to release the report. Ten days later, a snap election was called. Prior to the election, the government stated it had ‘protected’ ~353,000 hectares of old growth. In fact, the 353,000 ‘protected’ hectares contains 196,000 hectares of “old-growth forest” and 157,000 hectares of second-growth forest, which is open to forestry. Since that announcement, no further action has been taken by the government to protect old growth ecosystems, despite our current climate and biodiversity crises. This is especially disappointing, given recommendation #6 from the OGSR which states: ‘Until a new strategy is implemented, defer development in old forests where ecosystems are at very high and near-term risk of irreversible biodiversity loss.’
(https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/
Teal Jones has now filed a notice of application for an injunction to remove these blockades. A successful application means a court order will be used to break the blockades, cut down these last stands of ancient forest, and subject those blockading to arrest for contempt of court as civil disobedience may be the only defense of this precious forest ecosystem. The court date is this Thursday, March 4, 2021. The application will be heard in Vancouver, but demonstrations are being organized in both Nanaimo and Victoria. Information is attached, should anyone wish to participate (masks mandatory, 6 foot distancing in effect).
Other ways to help protect our old growth forests include writing to or calling Premier John Horgan (premier@gov.bc.ca; 250-387-1715), Minister of Forests Katrine Conroy (FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca; 250-387-6240), and Minister of Environment and Climate Change George Heyman (ENV.minister@gov.bc.ca; 250-387-1187).
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