What it is
A bold legislative proposal that redefines forestry in BC to serve long-term public interest—rooted in economic renewal, protection of the most biodiverse and healthy ecosystems, restoration of degraded areas, and community governance.
Core elements
- A simple three-zone forest system: protect primary forests, restore degraded ones, and allow logging only in previously-logged forests (i.e. steward forests in the public interest)
- Shift governance from corporations to community- and Indigenous-led decision-making
- Support regional economies through regional log sort yards and value-added industries, not raw log exports
Why it’s a political win
- Reflects what British Columbians want: jobs, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience
- Bridges urban-rural and left-right divides with a clear, practical solution
- Enhances public trust and positions BC as a leader in smart, forward-looking legislation
Talking points you can use (see more below that focus on ecology)
- This isn’t about stopping forestry—it’s about doing it smarter, with long-term benefits for people and places.
- British Columbians want to see forests protected and managed for the future, not just for short-term gain.
- This proposal helps communities thrive while protecting what makes BC unique.
Coming soon
We’ll soon be releasing a filmed version of our presentation publicly to help grow awareness and support across BC. If you’d like to be featured in a future segment as someone helping lead this reform, we’d be honoured to work with your team to make that easy and enjoyable.
Ecological & Stewardship-Focused Talking Points
These statements are designed for use in conversations with colleagues, media, and constituents who want to understand why forest reform must be rooted in ecological care and long-term thinking.
🔹 1. “Ecological integrity must come first—it’s the foundation for everything else.”
Without primary forests, we lose not only biodiversity but clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, and community safety. The New Forest Act puts ecological integrity at the core of every decision.
🔹 2. “Forests aren’t just timber—they’re life support systems.”
This proposal recognizes that forests manage water, stabilize climate, and support cultural and economic life. That means we need to manage them as ecosystems, not fibre farms.
🔹 3. “Stewardship is smarter than extraction.”
Industrial logging has cost us billions in disasters. Stewarding forests for their natural functions reduces public risk, protects infrastructure, and builds long-term value.
🔹 4. “You can’t replace what took centuries to grow.”
Primary forests are irreplaceable. The New Forest Act removes them from the timber harvesting land base and protects them for what they are: the backbone of ecological resilience in BC.
🔹 5. “Restoration isn’t optional—it’s overdue.”
BC has over 10 million hectares of degraded, previously logged forests. This Act invests in restoration to rebuild the ecological health of the degraded lands. This will not only create areas of economic potential for these previously logged lands, but also provide opportunities for long-term ecosystem services like connecting remaining primary forests, wildlife corridors or wetland habitats.
🔹 6. “Nature-directed stewardship means letting ecosystems lead, not markets.”
The New Forest Act builds on science and Indigenous knowledge to guide forest use—not short-term timber pricing or corporate forecasts.
🔹 7. “We manage forests better when local communities and Indigenous communities are in charge.”
Decentralized, place-based stewardship brings knowledge, accountability, and care back into forest management. It’s how we rebuild trust—and healthy ecosystems.
About This Initiative
This initiative is part of a coordinated effort by the Interior Watershed Task Force (IWTF)—a coalition of grassroots groups working to advance forest and watershed reform across BC.
The New Forest Act proposal was developed by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society (BFWSS), with expert input and community consultation. The Three-Zone Forest Management System was developed by Conservation North, offering a clear, ecologically grounded framework for forest land use. Together, these contributions form a bold, actionable vision for legislative and policy reform in BC forestry, shared collaboratively by IWTF member groups.
Contact
Interior Watershed Task Force: iwtf888@gmail.com | www.iwtf.ca
Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society: boundaryforest@gmail.com | www.boundaryforest.org
Conservation North: info@conservationnorth.org| www.conservationnorth.org
Leave a Reply