Background on the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) ‘Improve Old Growth Ecosystem Conservation’ Resolution:
– Supported by both Revelstoke City Council and Columbia-Shushwap Regional District
– The resolution recognizes the important public benefits of old-growth forests both locally and provincially, and calls on the province to act on their commitments, and to work with First Nations and local governments to establish long-term protection measures for ancient and old-growth
ecosystems of provincial significance, including increased conservation efforts for the Rainbow-Jordan wilderness and the Inland Temperate Rainforest
Public benefits of intact old-growth forests:
– Ecological resiliency and reduced biodiversity loss
– Climate regulation and mitigation through large amounts of carbon storage 1
– Watershed stability and decreased flood and landslide risk
– Community public safety through reduced wildfire risk as old forests are less likely to ignite than managed forests 2
– Opportunities for local and provincial tourism and recreation with visits and branding
– Community values, such as community connection and mental health, supported through access to nature and shared stewardship of natural spaces
The Inland Temperate Rainforest and the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness:
– The Inland Temperate Rainforest (ITR) is a red-listed ecosystem, 3 one of the rarest rainforest ecosystems in the world
– Old growth ITR has been and continues to be lost at an alarming rate, 4 with devastating impacts on caribou, rare plant communities, and old growth dependent lichens
– Revelstoke’s rapidly growing tourism and recreation economy is dependent upon this landscape – The Rainbow-Jordan wilderness is a rare pocket of intact ancient ITR; one of the largest areas of intact ancient ITR forest outside of existing protected areas, only partially protected from logging
by temporary short-term deferrals, and with strong community support behind protecting it
– Following years of research, a protected area proposal has been developed for the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness by Valhalla Wilderness Society
– Protecting ancient ITR forests, like the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness, can support reconciliation efforts through meaningful and respectful consultation and engagement with First Nations, and contribute towards global and provincial targets to address the biodiversity crisis, such as 30% land and ocean protection by 2030, and provincial old growth priorities as outlined in the Old Growth Strategic Review
1 Dymond, C. C., Venter, M., Lilles, E., Barros, L. D. A., Farnell, I., Hirsh-Pearson, K., … & Venter, O. (2025).
Reducing logging intensity in north temperate rainforests for climate and economic benefits. Forest Ecology and
Management, 597, 123163.
2 https://eaglevalleynews.com/2024/06/05/ecologist-disputes-foresters-presentation-to-columbia-shuswap-district/
3 DellaSala, D. A., Strittholt, J. R., Degagne, R., Mackey, B., Werner, J. R., Connolly, M., … & Keith, H. (2021).
Red-listed ecosystem status of interior wetbelt and inland temperate rainforest of British Columbia, Canada. Land,
10(8), 775.
4 Price, K., Daust, D., Daust, K., & Holt, R. (2023). Estimating the amount of British Columbia’s “big-treed” old
growth: navigating messy indicators. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5, 958719.