Rossland passes motion to defend BC’s last remaining Old-Growth Forests
By Contributor
Rossland City Council has unanimously approved a motion to call on the BC government to immediately defer logging in all at-risk old-growth forests, including those in the Interior Temperate Rainforest.
With this motion, the City of Rossland calls upon the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all at-risk and old-growth forests, as identified by the independent Old-Growth Strategic Review Panel.
With this motion, Rossland formally opposes the logging of at-risk old-growth forests and calls on the government to permanently protect the Fairy Creek watershed and at-risk old growth near Rossland from further logging.
"Rossland city council was unanimous in our support for this important issue. We have so very few of these old-growth stands remaining in the Province. For the health of the environment, it is critical that they be protected in perpetuity immediately."
Rossland Mayor, Kathy Moore.
"By building on the momentum that is happening across the province, Rossland joins 10 other municipalities including, Comox, Powell River, Courtenay, Lantzville, Nanaimo, Port Renfrew, Metchosin, Victoria, Saanich, and Port Moody, in passing resolutions requesting the Province defer logging of old-growth forests.
"Rossland is the first municipality within the interior to pass a motion to call upon the government to stop old-growth logging. This is an opportunity to bring attention to interior British Columbia which is home to the Interior Temperate Rainforest with globally unique old-growth forests that are quickly disappearing.
"This is a big moment for Rossland and something to be celebrated. Old-growth ecosystems are one of the most valuable climate mitigation assets we have for carbon storage, protection against wildfire, and water storage. As we are in the midst of one of our worst fire seasons, it is more important than ever to be working towards defending the last of our old-growth forests, including the ancient trees here in the Interior of British Columbia.
"We can move forward with more sustainable forestry practices that have long-term economic benefits to our local communities without logging the last remaining old-growth."
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