B.C. Indigenous leaders say the government is falling short in its efforts to protect old growth forests.
At a press conference Wednesay, Dec. 1, members of Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs called the current process inadequate, specifically pointing to a 30-day limit to respond in relation to old growth logging deferrals. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC president, said it was a sa国际传媒渃ritically important discussion.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淭he issue of old growth is, in many ways, the metaphor for the absolute neglect of the forest lands in B.C. for the last 50 years,sa国际传媒� said Phillip. sa国际传媒淚f anyone has the opportunity to fly over B.C., you will see a massive wasteland of clearcut and recently, within the context of flooding in Merritt sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 absolutely shocking, the amount of timber thatsa国际传媒檚 been removed from the hills around the Merritt area. We all know once you remove timber, most lands are vulnerable to mudslides and rockslides and flooding and so on, and so forth.sa国际传媒�
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a lawyer and expert on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, said there have been long-standing issues with excluding First Nations and recognizing forests as part of their traditional territories. The governmentsa国际传媒檚 actions are contrary to the UN resolution, she said.
sa国际传媒淭he province has tools at its disposal, including free, prior, informed consent,sa国际传媒� said Turpel-Lafond. sa国际传媒淚t doesnsa国际传媒檛 come with an expiration and an arbitrary time limit, particularly a time limit that is not reasonable given how significant these issues are sa国际传媒� also there is an unclear policy on the part of the province in terms of compensating and ensuring there is proper economic opportunity for First Nations to protect their economies, but also to protect old growth and the relationship between First Nations and the forest as an Indigenous relationship that is unique, not just an economic engine that is used and disposed of.sa国际传媒�
When asked about next steps, Phillip said it is important to understand the sa国际传媒渄eplorable state of affairs within B.C. forest lands.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淭he forest industry itself has traditionally been the piggy bank for the provincial government, no matter what political stripe, they may be,sa国际传媒� said Phillip. sa国际传媒淚n that regard, theysa国际传媒檝e absolutely permitted the clearcutting of this entire province, without any kind of oversight sa国际传媒� There hasnsa国际传媒檛 been a forest inventory in British Columbia for like 40 years. The governments have no idea whatsa国际传媒檚 out there. They just keep issuing permits.
sa国际传媒淲hat we need is a complete inventory, a comprehensive inventory of the forest lands and the water systems and fisheries and wildlife. And then we need to move out from there, to begin to develop legislation and a policy framework.sa国际传媒�
A committee of experts mapped 26,000 square kilometres of old growth forests at risk of loss of biodiversity and in November, the province asked Indigenous peoples to respond on whether they were in favour of deferrals within 30 days.
The province also said First Nations may say if they need more time and consultation in order to allow for local knowledge to be included in deferral plans.
The Ministry of Forests was contacted for comment, but did not immediately respond.
sa国际传媒� With files from the Canadian Press
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