One Billion Dollars for Old Growth

In a historic agreement, on Friday November 3rd, federal, provincial, and First Nations leaders announced new ground breaking protections for old-growth forests and species at-risk. The agreement which runs until March 2030 pledged $1 billion to preserve high priority old-growth forests within British Columbia. Including the protection of 1.3 million hectares of said old-growth, using $50 million of federal funds.

This agreement is an enormous win for conservation groups amid an unprecedented biodiversity crisis. With 5,000 species in Canada alone are at some risk of extinction it is imperative that agreements such as this continue to happen. With the government of Canada pledging to conserve 30% of the nation's natural lands and waters by 2050 it is yet to be seen if they will achieve this goal. However, they are making progress, looking back at a $20.6 million the federal government made with the Yukon to protect land and now this new deal, it's obvious they’re at least attempting to put their money where their mouth is. If the agreements achieve the 2050 goal they will hopefully aid in blocking habitat destruction that arises from factors such as clearcutting, mining, oil and gas extraction, and urban development. The resulting preserved habitat should hopefully provide a much needed refuge for species at-risk such as the spotted owl and help to somewhat alleviate the looming biodiversity crisis within Canada.

Another focal point of this deal was the aspect of reconciliation. Working with First Nations leaders will hopefully set a precedent for any future plans involving both current and traditionally First Nations lands. Giving these groups a voice is important not only because they inhabit the lands but also because they have traditional ecological knowledge that is crucial for helping to preserve and understand the natural environment and diverse ecosystems that are present.

While the agreement is set in place it may still take time to use the available funds to protect land. For this reason, critics say that the current government needs to step up and do more to prevent the loss of these important ecosystems before they can be protected. Something that the government can do now is old-growth logging deferrals: an immediate action that can prevent the logging of some old-growth forests. Urgency is on the forefront of the discussion surrounding these agreements but time will tell if it is fast enough.

Ultimately, the agreement is a very positive step towards preserving both old-growth and biodiversity. Although it may be taking longer than what would be ideal, these arrangements are definitely big steps in the right direction for conservation. We look forward to seeing this deal become more than just words over the next 7 years and hope that the government will do everything in its power to act with urgency.

SOURCE:

The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-nature-agreement-2023/