Old Growth Forests
Last updated on December 4, 2024
British Columbia is taking a new approach to forest stewardship that is based on planning and active forest management. We are committed to better ways to manage and care for our forests so they can be resilient for generations to come.
New Future for Old Forests
The Old Growth Strategic Review report, A New Future for Old Forests (PDF 8MB), sets out a suite of 14 recommendations. Like forests themselves, the recommendations are deeply complex and interconnected, drawing on the need for new partnerships, perspectives and ways of collaborating. Government has worked with First Nations, industry and local communities to better understand these recommendations and their implications on the ground.
From review to action
Government is taking action to respond to every recommendation made in A New Future for Old Forests. Our action plan – titled From Review to Action – describes the steps we have already taken to implement the recommendations and charts a path forward. The actions in the plan are organized into three goals:
- Goal One: Expand stable and inclusive land governance
- Goal Two: Stewardship for healthy ecosystems
- Goal Three: Support the changing system
Work has begun on every recommendation; however, some recommendations will take years to be fully implemented. Many of the actions are based on continuing work on existing initiatives.
What's underway across B.C.
The Province and First Nation governments are working together to advance reconciliation through the co-management of forests. Further information about work underway to implement the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review can be found below.
Collaborative Stewardship
The Province is working with First Nations to support stewardship through initiatives, forums and partnerships.
Forest Landscape Planning
Plans are now underway with the leadership of First Nations and local representation to establish long-term approaches for managing forest resource values including timber, cultural, and biodiversity values.
Old Growth Deferrals
The Province, First Nations and industry across B.C. have worked in partnership to defer logging of at-risk old growth as a temporary measure until local discussions on long-term management of old growth values are concluded.
Silviculture Innovation Program
The Silviculture Innovation Program will accelerate the growth of innovative silviculture by improving knowledge of these systems in British Columbia.
Taking action in B.C.'s forest sector
Actions to strengthen resilience and conservation, creating opportunities to partner with First Nations and collaborate across the sector to promote sustainable forest practices.
Conservation Financing
The Province has partnered with BC Parks Foundation to provide financing to conserve critical habitat, manage for climate change and protect important ecosystems including old growth forests.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework
The draft Framework sets out a common vision and strategic direction for a more holistic approach to managing ecosystem health and biodiversity for multiple values.
Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation
This first-of-its-kind agreement enables Canada, B.C. and First Nations to jointly identify projects and investments to protect and conserve biodiversity, habitats and species at risk in the province.
Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation news release
LidarBC
LidarBC provides open public access to three-dimensional landscape mapping and data to inform decisions about natural resource stewardship and management.
BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (MJF) will help manufacturing companies modernize, innovate, and grow by providing funding for capital projects in all regions in B.C., particularly in communities affected by economic impacts or downturns.
MJF prioritizes helping the forestry sector retrofit and develop new, sustainable value-added business lines.
Supports for forestry workers and rural communities
The Province is providing coordinated and comprehensive supports for workers, communities and First Nations and businesses to offset any economic impacts that may follow from new restrictions on harvesting old growth forests and other changes in the forest sector.
Value-Added Accelerators
Working together to sustain, diversify and grow B.C.’s value-added wood manufacturing is a key government commitment to help get more jobs from the trees we harvest. The Value-Added Accelerators (VAA) will play an important role in making this happen.