The B.C. government moved Wednesday to protect 54 of the province鈥檚 largest trees in a first step toward a broader old-growth strategy.
In a change criticized as 鈥渋nadequate鈥� by the B.C. Green Party, Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said the 鈥渆xceptionally large and old trees鈥� were selected from 347 on the University of B.C.鈥檚 Big Tree Registry.
Doug Donaldson, minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development, announces steps to protect some of the province鈥檚 largest trees during a press conference in Francis/King Regional Park. July 17, 2019 Photo by Darren Stone/Times Colonist
The 54 old-growth giants will be surrounded by groves about the size of a 鈥渟occer pitch鈥� to provide additional protection, especially from windstorms, Donaldson said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to leave the impression that it鈥檚 one tree standing in the forest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a one-hectare buffer around that tree. So it鈥檚 other trees included in that.鈥�
The trees are located in more than two dozen locations, including central B.C., the East Kootenay, Haida Gwaii, 麻豆传媒映画Island and the Fraser Valley.
More trees could be added as they are identified, said Donaldson, who made the announcement at Francis/King Regional Park, standing in front of an ancient Douglas fir tree that is already protected within the park boundaries.
鈥淏ritish Columbians want to know that trees like this and the ones you鈥檙e seeing today 鈥� even in an area they might not ever visit 鈥� will never be cut down,鈥� he said.
B.C. Green Party MLA Adam Olsen said the decision to protect 54 trees falls far short of what is needed to save endangered old-growth ecosystems, particularly those on 麻豆传媒映画Island.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the least possible thing that the government could do when it comes to protecting old growth,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating and a distraction, I think, from what actually needs to be done.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not good enough, not far enough.鈥�
The Greens have called for a moratorium on logging in 麻豆传媒映画Island鈥檚 old-growth 鈥渉ot spots,鈥� described as pristine areas of conservation significance, such as the Central Walbran or Schmidt Creek, north of Sayward.
Donaldson said the move to protect big trees marks the start of a 鈥渂roader conversation鈥� about managing old-growth forests.
He noted that Gary Merkel, a forester and member of the Tahltan Nation, and Al Gorley, former chair of the Forest Practices Board, will hear from British Columbians beginning this fall on how to manage old-growth forests. The two-man panel will deliver its recommendations to the government next spring.
鈥淭he recommendations are expected to inform a new approach to old-growth management for British Columbia,鈥� Donaldson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always a question of how to strike a balance between protecting old-growth trees and protecting jobs and the economy.鈥�
Andrea Innes, a forest campaigner with the Ancient Forest Alliance, welcomed the appointment of an independent panel. 鈥淭he NDP have been talking about an old-growth strategy for almost a year now, with very little to show for it,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hat we need is a much more comprehensive, legislated plan that鈥檚 based on science and protects entire endangered old-growth forest ecosystems.鈥�
The government said the 54 trees selected for protection had to meet certain criteria, including being on Crown land outside parks or other protected areas. In addition, each tree was required to meet a minimum size threshold determined by the tree鈥檚 diameter.
For Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western red cedar and yellow cedar, the minimum threshold was set at 50 per cent of the largest tree on record for those species. The minimum for other species was set at 75 per cent.
For example, the largest coastal Douglas fir on record has a diameter at breast height of 4.23 metres. The protection threshold was set at 2.12 metres.
With files from the Canadian Press
