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Old Growth Open Letter

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Old Growth Open Letter June 2, 2021 Dear Premier Horgan, Murray Rankin (Indigenous Relations Minister), George Heyman (Environment and Climate Change Minister), Melanie Mark (Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport), Nathan Cullen (Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations), and Katrine Conroy (Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development), As Canadian athletes of national and international stature, we are imploring you to act now and implement all of the Old Growth Strategic Review recommendations before it is too late. Very few old-growth forests are still standing across the province. Most of them are slated to be logged even though these forests have a greater net economic, ecological and cultural value for communities if they are left standing[1]. By protecting endangered old-growth forests, restoring intact forests and reforming forest management, your government can support the health and safety of communities by mitigating these climate related disasters before the climate crisis worsens. We are asking that you: ● Expedite engagement with Indigenous decision-makers to implement all recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review, in line with the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act; ● Provide interim protection for all at-risk old-growth as called for by the Old Growth Strategic Review with the intent to eventually legislate permanent protection; ● Commit to implementing the 14 recommendations by providing funding for Indigenous-led conservation solutions and transition support for forestry-dependent communities. Public and visitor interest in seeing and experiencing big-tree forests is increasing and is being promoted. Information provided by the Adventure Tourism Coalition states that adventure tourism directly or indirectly supports 32,000 families and generated $3.2 billion in visitor spending in 2018. Without immediate action, the tourism and recreation industries will see significant economic downfall[2]. These threats will only increase in magnitude as these forests are non-renewable within any reasonable time frame[3]. Once they are gone, we’ve lost them forever. Sincerely, Todd Easterbrook, Pemberton, BC Greg Hill, Revelstoke, BC Kim Vinet, Revelstoke, BC Jeff Schmuck, Vancouver, BC Mario Rigby, Toronto, ON Mike Hopkins, Rossland, BC Marie-France Roy, Ucluelet, BC Kim Lamarre, Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC David Carrier-Porcheron, Squamish, BC Ray Zahab, Chelsea, QC Gabriel Filippi, QC Kye Petersen, Pemberton, BC Tobin Seagel, Whistler, BC Reuben Krabbe, Squamish, BC Mike Douglas, Whistler, BC Natalie Segal, Revelstoke, BC Chris Rubens, Revelstoke, BC Bruno Long, Revelstoke, BC Spencer O’Brien, Vancouver, BC Indra Hayre, unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm, sḵwx̱ wú7mesh & sel̓ íl̓ witulh land, “Vancouver, B.C.” Philippe Marquis, Québec, QC Nick McNutt, Squamish, BC Alannah Yip, Vancouver, BC Stan Rey, Whistler, BC Justin Lamoureux, Squamish, BC Leah Evans, Revelstoke, BC Robin Van Gyn, Ucluelet, BC Elladj Baldé, Montréal, QC William Gadd, AB Izzy Lynch, Revelstoke, BC Anna Segal, Pemberton, BC Julia Murray, Whistler, BC Davey Barr, Whistler, BC Vaea Verbeeck, Vernon, BC [1] “A New Future For Old Growth Forests: A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages for Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems”, Old Growth Review Panel, 2020. Price, Karen, Rachel F. Holt, Dave Daust,“BC’s Old Growth Forests: A Last Stand for Biodiversity”, April 2020. [2] “A New Future For Old Growth Forests: A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages for Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems”, Old Growth Review Panel, 2020. [3] “Carbon at risk: B.C.’s Unprotected Old-Growth Rainforest”, Sierra Club BC, February 2013..
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