Once upon a time, there was a premier who pretended that saving the magnificent old-growth forests of BC might be of some interest for him.  “We are embarking on the journey to transform forestry.” he declared to the media while announcing two-year old-growth deferrals in the Fairy Creek and Central Walbran regions. These deferrals came on the heels of the Pacheedaht, Dididaht and Huu-ay-aht Declaration, and backtracked on the Intentions Paper timeline of 2023 for an OG strategy announced just days before. 

The good citizens of BC heard him announce the two-year deferrals and breathed a collective sigh of relief. Fairy Creek was saved! But hey, what’s that? The Rainforest Flying Squad refuses to stand down? Didn’t the premier just ride in on a shiny white horse and come to the rescue to save Fairy Creek? 

Short answer: no. How many approved OG cutblocks are there in the deferred Fairy Creek watershed area? One, repeat, none. Why? Government has not approved any OG cutblocks within the deferred Fairy Creek watershed. Most of the watershed is already designated as Wildlife Habitat Area and Old Growth Management areas and theoretically under some sort of protection. The approved OG cutblocks being protected by RFS lie along side the deferred area of Fairy Creek watershed and NOT ONE of those sites has been deferred.    

As with the original nine deferrals of old-growth last fall, the BC NDP’s deferral plan for Fairy Creek is simply a continuation of the NDP smoke and mirrors show with some sleight of hand thrown in for good measure. It’s important to note that two-year deferrals are far from a permanent ban. The day after the deferral expires, industry can come in and clear cut the OG and poof! it’s gone forever. What we really need is a permanent ban that ensures these rare ecosystems are protected in perpetuity. 

And now we discover that while the premier is doling out deferrals with one hand, he is shoveling out OG cutblocks to be auctioned off by BC Timber Sales with the other. In fact, thanks to government approvals, OG harvesting has increased by 43% over the past year. One has to wonder why the government is so eager to get rid of OG so fast and so soon. But that’s another article.

So, just how serious is the NDP government about protecting BC’s old growth and working in consultation and partnership with the First Nations? So far, we have eleven deferrals that evaporate in two years. Then there’s the 2021 Forest Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Pacheedaht that awards them the paltry sum of $242,000 for the forest revenue produced on all their unceded lands, not just old-growth. Mind you, this is an increase over the even more pathetic $75,000 granted in the 2017 FRSA. This while Teal Jones charges RFS with irreparable harm of $20 million just from OG harvesting just for the past year! Again, another article.

Now we discover the existence of the First Nations Forest Strategy, a document that came out of consultations between the BC First Nations Forestry Council and the province conducted from 2015 to 2018. It was endorsed in 2019 by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the First Nations Summit and the BC Assembly of First Nations. And not a whisper about it from government.

What do we see instead? Government posturing with industrial forest organizations – the United Steel Workers Union, the Truck Loggers Association, the BC Council of Forest Industries, all echoing the same pitched cries about the loss of jobs and revenues in a fading industry.

Will there be a fairy tale ending for the NDP government’s protection of BC’s old-growth forests and a change from the colonial practices of the past? Fairy Godmother, where are you?

Photos: Kathy Code, RCMP face off against RFS Defenders at Hayhaka, Jun 3, 2021

Kathleen Code is a retired economic development analyst with the BC provincial government with a Masters in Environment and Management, a BA in Political Science and Psychology and a Diploma in Criminology.