The parties' promises on Forests and forest conservation

BC NDP

Plant more than 300 million trees every year

"Strengthening our restoration work by planting more than 300 million trees every year — with the right tree species in the right place — to help increase biodiversity and forest resilience to climate change, restore wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of wildfire and floods to our communities." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07
Complete the provincial commitment set out in the Old Growth Strategic Review's 14 recommendations
Create new Forest Landscape Planning Tables to bring together industry, First Nations, and communities

"Bringing together industry, First Nations and communities to work together — through new Forest Landscape Planning Tables — to chart a path forward for the stewardship of BC forests that increases sustainable harvest levels, drives improved old-growth management, and respects local knowledge and community priorities." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

Define an areas of forests where biodiversity goals will be prioritised
1. "Define the land area that will be prioritized for meeting biodiversity goals, where sourcing forest products will be of secondary value.
Combined with our parks and other forested areas, our balanced approach will allow industry to access an adequate and predictable supply of fibre, while protecting the ecological value of BC’s forests.

Having flexibility within the management of these areas will allow BC to better manage forest health issues, including wildfire mitigation plus restoration and rehabilitation where needed."

— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08
Return 20% of BC's forests to First Nations

"Return 20% of BC’s forests to First Nations, enabling Indigenous groups to manage these resources sustainably and in line with their traditions and values." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

Immediately set conserving ecosystem health and biodiversity of forests as an overarching priority, with timber supply being one benefit

"Immediately establish conservation of ecosystem health and biodiversity of BC’s forests as an overarching priority, with timber supply being one benefit (for more information, see our Environment plank)" — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Establish a Chief Ecologist as a counterpart to the Chief Forester

"Establish a Chief Ecologist as a counterpart to the Chief Forester to ensure multiple values are adequately incorporated into timber supply analysis and other decision-making" — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Zone BC's forests into three broad categories: Primary forests, restoration in secondary forests, and second-growth forests for timber

"Zone BC’s forests into three broad categories:

1. Primary forests

2. Restoration in secondary forests

3. Second-growth forests managed for timber production"

— BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Reduce the Annual Allowable Cut to ecologically and economically sustainable levels
Fund and prioritise Forest Landscape Plans and Modernised Land Use Planning processes
Stop clearcut industrial logging and adopt different logging practices

"Stop clearcut industrial logging and adopt logging practices that emulate natural disturbance regimes, such as selective logging, commercial thinning, and longer stand rotations."

— BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Amend the Private Managed Forest Land Act to ensure basic ecological and cultural protections on private land
Implement all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review in partnership with First Nations
Defer harvesting in the most at-risk old growth forests

"Defer harvesting in the most at-risk old growth forests, as outlined by the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Fully fund the protection of old forests, and compensate First Nations for any lost revenues due to deferrals
Implement targets for old and mature forest retention

"Implement effective targets for old and mature forest retention, and improve riparian protection province-wide, as an interim strategy before Forest Landscape Planning is finalized." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Improve Ministry of Forests transparency

"Direct Ministry of Forests staff to improve transparency in government announcements, reporting, and monitoring. Make information about forests and logging accessible and current— including updated maps and data." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Ban pellet mills from converting trees logged in primary or old-growth forests into wood pellets

"Strictly prohibit pellet mills from converting trees logged in primary or old growth forests into wood pellets. Define ‘waste’ for pellet mills to ensure ecosystem health is protected." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09
Dedicate funds to acquiring private land to protect old growth forests

"Dedicate funds for private land acquisition to protect old growth forests on private lands." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Forests and forest conservation platforms

BC NDP

BC Conservatives

BC Greens

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