Correspondence from District of Saanich: Old Growth Logging

Re: Old Growth Logging

This letter is to confirm that on April 26, 2021, Saanich Council considered a Notice of Motion from Councillor Taylor regarding old growth logging and resolved as follows:

“That Council endorse the following resolution and direct staff to forward copies to the Premier of British Columbia, Members of the Legislative Assembly representing constituencies on Vancouver Island, the Capital Regional District Board, municipalities in the Capital Region, and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, requesting favourable consideration:

WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;

AND WHEREAS, of the miniscule amount (2.7%) of the original high productivity (big tree) old growth forests that are left (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the District of Saanich call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at-risk old-growth forests as, the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest;

AND THAT the District of Saanich formally oppose the logging of at-risk old-growth forests;

AND THAT the District of Saanich call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable old-growth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.”

An excerpt of the meeting minutes is attached for your reference.

Sincerely,

Angila Bains, B.A., CMC Manager, Legislative Services

/sh

Attach.