What is going on in Fairy Creek? Why do we need to protect old-growth? What are indigenous perspectives on this issue? What can I do?
Creatively United has created these free shareable infographics to help spread the world about the old growth logging at Fairy Creek. Please share far and wide!
What is going on in Fairy Creek?
• Fairy Creek watershed is part of Tree Farm License 46, a timber harvesting tenure held by the logging company Teal Jones
• Fairy Creek is the last intact watershed outside of a park or protected area on Vancouver Island
• BC Premier John Horgan campaigned on a promise that the BC NDP, under the recommendations of an expert panel, would protect BC old-growth forests
• The RCMP has moved in on protestors on behalf of Teal Jones after the company was granted an injunction prohibiting road blockades by the B.C. Supreme Court on April 1st, 2021
• On June 10, 2021, the BC government announced a deferral on logging in key areas in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran, but old-growth logging could continue in the directly adjacent forest and parts of the Central Walbran
• Protestors and land defenders have been blockading in Fairy Creek since August 2020, and protests have continued into July 2021
Why do we need to protect B.C. old-growth?
• Fairy Creek is home to 1000-year-old yellow cedars
• Old-growth forests are some of the most resilient to droughts, floods and wildfires, which will all become more frequent and bigger in scale as the climate crisis worsens
• Old-growth forests are carbon sinks, but also contain 2-3 times more carbon per hectare than second-growth forests, meaning that when old-growth forests are logged, carbon is released into the atmosphere
• Old-growth forests have multi-layered canopies, woody debris, gaps for sunlight, and are home to mosses, fungi and other flora, all of which allow for biodiversity to flourish
• B.C. coastal forests reach old-growth status once they are 200+ years old, but if these forests are logged every 30-80 years, then they will never become old-growth again
What are Indigenous perspectives on this issue?
• Elected Chief Jeff Jones and hereditary Chief Frank Queesto Jones signed onto a statement indicating that the Pacheedaht First Nation have always harvested and managed forestry resources, including old-growth cedar, for “cultural, ceremonial, domestic and economic purposes” – They are in the process of making a resource stewardship plan
• While the chiefs have asked for “third-party activism” in the territory to cease, Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones is a member of the Rainforest Flying Squad and has welcomed protestors onto the land
• The Pacheedaht, Ditidaht, and Huu-ay-aht First Nations called for the logging deferrals on Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran
• Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones has stated the following about the deferral: “We must not stand down, as all First Nations are locked into unfair contracts that tie their hands”
What Can I do to help?
• Stay informed, follow @rainforestflyingsquad @fairycreekblockade @sierraclubbc @ancientforestalliance
• Join the people camping at Fairy Creek or bring them supplies, including: water, food, rain resistant camping gear and clothing, electronics and portable chargers (join the Fairy Creek Supply Needed Facebook group for up-to-date requests)
• Call BC Premier John Horgan: 1-250-387-1715 and email him at premier@gov.bc.ca and tell him to end all old-growth logging and to protect the people putting their bodies on the line
• Call BC Minister of Forests Katrine Conroy: 1-250-387-6240
• Send funds to help the 400+ people who have been arrested defending Fairy Creek, others who have been assaulted, and to support other financial needs (link in our bio)
• Join solidarity rallies happening in “Vancouver“ and “Victoria”
• Encourage big media sources to dedicate programming to what is happening to B.C. old-growth as much as they highlight “sustainable” forestry practices in B.C. (For instance contact Netflix content officer: tsarandos@netflix.com and ask that Netflix talks about Fairy Creek if they release a 2nd season of their series “Big Timber”)