Old Growth Forest Value
Last updated on August 27, 2024The Interim Assessment Protocol for Old Growth Forest in British Columbia describes the procedures for two components used in the assessment. One is an assessment of the amount of old forest or old and mature forest relative to established legal and policy targets. The other assesses the amount of incursions into old growth management areas (OGMAs), relative to the established limits of incursion.
The procedures described in the protocol are performance-based assessments of management risk (the risk that the Province is not meeting its stated objectives for old growth forest retention). These assessments complement the forest biodiversity assessments of ecological risks associated with current and future projected seral stage distribution, including old and mature forest.
Modifications to this protocol or alternate assessment methods may also be used to generate cumulative effects assessment reports for old growth forest.
To learn more about the old growth forest value and how it is assessed under the CEF, read the Old Growth Forest Infographic (PDF, 1MB).
Old Growth Forest Backgrounders & Infographic
To support further understanding of the Old Growth Forest value, two backgrounder documents are available:
- Old Growth Forest Management in British Columbia- Provincial Backgrounder (PDF, 7.1 MB)
- This document provides readers with key background information on how old growth forests and mature forests are managed in British Columbia. It is intended to support the interpretation of Old Growth Forest Current Condition Reports released under the provincial CEF
- Old Growth Forests in British Columbia- Cumulative Effects Assessment Backgrounder (PDF, 5.6 MB)
- This document provides information and context about the old growth forest current condition assessment and current condition reports released under the provincial CEF. It also provides a background on old growth forests as a CEF value and how cumulative effects may impact them, the key elements of the old growth forest provincial CEF value assessment methodology (including the assumptions and limitations), and provides a summary of data inputs used in the CEF value assessment.
- Old Growth Forest Infographic (PDF, 1 MB)
- This document provides high-level information on the old growth forest value and how it is assessed under the CEF.
Assessment Reports
Current Condition Reports and Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Reports produced under the Cumulative Effects Framework aim to provide decision-support for the management of old growth forests in British Columbia. Reports will be provided here as they become available.
Thompson-Okanagan Region:
- Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest: Thompson Okanagan - Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP Area - 2019 Analysis (August 2024) (PDF, 10.8 MB)
- Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest: Thompson Okanagan - Merritt TSA - 2019 Analysis (July 2024) (PDF, 15.3 MB)
- Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest in the Kamloops LRMP Area - 2019 Analysis (March 2024) (PDF, 13.4 MB)
- Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest in the Lillooet Timber Supply Area - 2019 Analysis (March 2024) (PDF, 4 MB)
Omineca Region:
- Report: Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest in the Robson Valley Timber Supply Area – 2019 Analysis (2023) (PDF, 7.7MB)
- Summary: Summary of the Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest in the Robson Valley Timber Supply Area – 2019 Analysis (2023) (PDF, 2MB)
West Coast Region:
- Report: Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest on Vancouver Island- 2019 Analysis (July 2023) (PDF, 9.4MB)
- Summary: Summary of the Current Condition Report for Old Growth Forest on Vancouver Island- 2019 Analysis (July 2023) (PDF, 1.3MB)
South Coast Region:
Kootenay-Boundary Region:
Rationale for Selection as a Cumulative Effects Framework Value
Old growth forests have ecological, economic, social and cultural value to the people of British Columbia. Old growth forests are important to First Nations, both spiritually and for ongoing traditional resource use. Their importance is reflected in provincial legislation, regulations and policies.
Legal objectives for old growth forest retention have been established for forested Crown land throughout B.C., either spatially defined in old growth management areas (OGMAs), or through non-spatial landscape level targets applied within forest stewardship plans. Legal objectives vary across regions, with differences in the age-based definitions of old growth forest, the age, amount to retain (e.g. targets) and analysis units. As a result, tracking the achievement of old growth forest objectives across the province is complicated.