Ancient Forest Alliance

10/10/2026

Here is a preliminary overview video filmed last Saturday on the positions up until then of the 2 largest political parties in BC about nature and old-growth protection. 🌲

They have not released their platforms yet, so it's based on the NDP government's track record and on the BC Conservatives' 2024 platform and their subsequent statements. In the write-up below, it also includes the Greens, who just released their platform on forestry (after the vid was made).

As they release their 2026 platforms and policy positions on old-growth forests and nature protection for this election, we will provide updates and new videos. We will also expand the topic areas related to BC forestry and nature and cover other parties.

Nature and Old-Growth Forest Protection - BC's Political Parties Positions (October 7, 2026)

🟠 BC NDP (based on their track record and previous commitments)

- Committed to protecting 30% of lands and waters in BC by 2030.
- Protected thousands of square kilometers, including old-growth forests in Clayoquot Sound, the Incomappleux Valley, and Klinse-za/Twin Sisters, with much greater areas in advanced stages toward protection (millions of hectares slated for protection), all involving conservation financing and working with First Nations.
- Deferred logging in over 2 million hectares that includes some of the grandest, oldest, and rarest old-growth forests in BC.
- Before the election, started moving toward an environmentally destructive "Working Forest" proposal to create guaranteed logging zones across much of the productive forest lands of BC to obstruct new protected areas, lift old-growth logging deferrals and vastly expand the rate of cut.

👉 See: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/.../ministries.../ministries/forests and https://www.bcndp.ca/releases
👉 See BC NDP Nature Plan: https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/ebys-plan-protects-bcs-natural-spaces-funds-climate-action (October 10)

🔵 BC Conservatives (based on their previous 2024 platform and subsequent policy statements)

- Have not committed to protecting 30% by 2030 of BC, nor to expanding the protected areas system in general.
- Have generally expressed concerns and opposition to old-growth deferrals and their impacts on the available timber supply.
- Proposed their own Working Forest-type proposal—even more extreme than the BC NDP’s. Spanning 22 million hectares, it would cover the entire extent of unprotected, productive forest lands in BC (the Timber Harvesting Land Base, which contains the big trees, richest biodiversity, and highest conservation value lands at the center of BC's forest controversy) to ensure "supply stability" for the timber industry. They state that the remainder of Crown lands (largely alpine, subalpine, far north, and areas with small trees or no trees) would be "for biodiversity"—though logging could still occur in these "biodiversity emphasis" areas as a "secondary value" (i.e., logging even in conservation areas).

👉 See: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/.../Conservative_Party...

🟢 BC Greens (based on their new forest policy statement and previous commitments)

- Committed to protecting all big-tree old-growth and large second-growth forests by working with First Nations, including with conservation financing.
- Committed to implementing all 14 recommendations of BC’s Old-Growth Strategic Review panel.
- Oppose any Working Forest designation.
- Previously, they committed to BC’s 30% by 2030 protection target.

👉 See: https://bcgreens.ca/announce-plan-to-reform-forestry.../

10/09/2026

Where do BC’s major political parties stand on nature and old-growth forest protection? 🌲

The upcoming BC election on October 24th is perhaps the most critical election for old-growth forests in decades.

Safeguarding nature is vital to support our health and well-being, First Nations cultures, a resilient and prosperous economy, a stable climate, and diversity of life on Earth.

Here are the positions of the 3 largest political parties in BC thus far about nature and old-growth protection.

🟠 The BC NDP takes a generally strong pro-protected areas stance, with progress on old-growth protection and protected areas expansion under its leadership, despite recent backsliding on old-growth commitments and an environmentally destructive "Working Forest" proposal.

🔵 The BC Conservative Party takes an anti-nature protection stance with no commitment to 30x30 or protected areas expansion, opposition to old-growth logging deferrals, and a Working Forest-type proposal more extreme than the BC NDP’s.

🟢 The BC Greens Party takes a strong pro-protected areas stance by supporting old-growth protection, committing to 30x30, and opposing any Working Forest designation.

We'll continue to provide updates as the parties release their official platforms and expand the topic areas.

👉 Swipe through to learn more! And don’t forget to vote on October 24th. 🗳️

Authorized by Ancient Forest Alliance, registered sponsor under the Election Act, 250-896-4007

10/02/2026

Wow!! National Geographic Travel has featured AFA photographer TJ Watt’s image of a record-sized cedar tree on Flores Island alongside Ahousaht Hereditary Representative Tyson Atleo! 🌲📸

Destination Canada selected the image for its 'Canada. A Year in Pictures' gallery with National Geographic. The gallery celebrates the landscapes, people, and places that make Canada extraordinary, with this photo highlighting perhaps the most impressive tree in the country and the longstanding relationship between the Ahousaht people and old-growth forests.

Located on Flores Island in Ahousaht territory in Clayoquot Sound, the tree, nicknamed “The Wall,” is more than 17 feet (5 metres) wide near its base and around 150 feet (46 metres) tall.

Thankfully, it now stands protected as part of the biggest old-growth protected-areas victory in decades: 76,000 hectares of new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound, established through the leadership of the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations in partnership with the BC government.

It’s not always the case that the forests featured in AFA’s photographs have a happy ending. We’re thrilled this one does, and that this historic achievement continues to be recognized and celebrated.

At more than 17 feet wide and 150 feet tall, this ancient western redcedar is likely well over a thousand years old. On assignment in Canada, National Geographic Explorer and photographer TJ Watt visited this tree with Ahousaht Hereditary Representative Tyson Atleo, which Watt said "reflected the longstanding relationship between the Ahousaht people and old-growth forests—This remarkable place is now protected thanks to their leadership across a series of new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound."

09/30/2026

We’re excited to share the winning design of our 2026 T-shirt Design Contest… introducing the Red Creek Fir Tee by Kootenay-based artist Sarah Jane Somerville ()!

Grab yours today! https://donate.ancientforestalliance.org/RedCreekFir%20shirt

The design features the world’s largest Douglas-fir tree, the Red Creek Fir, which grows near Port Renfrew. Sarah captured the feeling of wonder and awe when looking up at the massive, towering trunk of an old-growth tree.

The shirt is available in two colours—Sage Grey and Seafoam Green—on a 100% organic cotton tee from Canadian company Kindred Coast. We hope you love this design as much as we do!

AFA is grateful to everyone who submitted designs to our contest; we were blown away by the creativity, care, and thoughtfulness behind each one, and we appreciate everyone who helped celebrate ancient forests in BC through their art.

09/22/2026

Speak Up! Tell the BC NDP government to scrap its “Working Forest” proposal here: https://share.ancientforestalliance.org/r/stop-working-forest-oct

Go a step further and:

📞 Call the office of the Premier: 250-387-1715
📞 Call the Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar: 250-387-6240

The BC NDP government says its “Working Forest” proposal will help protect forestry jobs.

Yet they allow the mass export of millions of raw, unprocessed logs to foreign mills each year.

They’ve also eased restrictions on raw log exports while BC mills shut down.

The “Working Forest” would lock most of the richest forests in BC, including old-growth, into guaranteed logging zones.

Under “No Net Loss,” protecting a forest would mean opening other areas to logging or giving up conservation options elsewhere.

But decades of overcutting the most valuable forests created this crisis.

Doubling down on the same approach won’t solve it.

We must end raw log exports.

Invest in a modernized, sustainable, second-growth industry with an emphasis on wood manufacturing.

Protect old-growth. Help mills retool. Train workers for a rapid transition.
—

09/21/2026

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is raising concerns about BC's proposed Working Forest Landscape Model, saying that prioritizing commercial timber production in designated areas could significantly affect water, wildlife, biodiversity, cultural use, conservation, and Syilx rights and responsibilities.

📣 Take action! Send a NEW message to the BC government: https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/

The Syilx Okanagan Nation said it is concerned the province’s planned Working Forest Landscape Model may undermine environmental protection and Indigenous title and rights.

In a press release from the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) issued Sept. 16, the coalition of Syilx First Nations said the working forest model “raises fundamental questions about how the health of the land is valued and who determines its future.

“Forests are more than a timber supply – they are interconnected living systems that sustain water, wildlife, foods, medicines, biodiversity, cultural practices and Syilx responsibilities to the land,” the ONA release reads.

“Prioritizing commercial timber production through long-term land-use designations could have significant implications for Syilx Aboriginal title and rights, governance, stewardship responsibilities, cultural use, conservation priorities and future land use decisions.”

B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar announced the plans for the working forest model back in August 2026. According to Parmar, the model will reduce permit complexity and wait times for lumber companies by creating a zone-based system.

There would be three zones within the system including: a conservation or protection zone that emphasizes habitat protection, a multiple-use zone focused on long-term ecosystem function but allowing different types of uses, and a working forest zone prioritizing harvesting.

“The working forest landscape model allows us to be able to build a working forest for working people that ensures that we can address the challenges the sector is facing,” Parmar said during a press conference in August announcing the new forestry plans.

The ONA said one of its primary concerns is that the creation of working forest zones will have timber harvesting as the “dominant objective” and could limit opportunities to protect and restore the environment.

It also said there are “significant unanswered questions” on how the model would establish boundaries and how the zones would be respected legally or through policy.

The ONA also said these land management decisions should be made with the involvement of Indigenous title holders “whose territories are being affected.”

“Certainty for the forest industry cannot come at the expense of the land, water, wildlife or future generations. A modern approach to forestry must recognize Indigenous title and jurisdiction and ensure ecosystem health is not secondary to timber supply. The Syilx Forestry Principles & Standards set our expectations for forestry within Syilx Okanagan Territory. Provincial zoning will not replace our laws, responsibilities, standards or role in making decisions about our lands and resources,” said Chief Clarence Louie, Tribal Chairman of the ONA.

According to the B.C. government, the decisions on where to apply the zones are being held in conjunction with First Nations, local governments and the forestry industry. The province said it will announce the zones for a pilot of the working forest model in the fall.

Speak up against guaranteed logging zones that block future forest protection. Send a letter today telling the BC government to scrap its Working Forest proposal.

09/21/2026

Endangered old-growth forests, including those currently under logging deferral, will be threatened if the BC NDP government’s “Working Forest” proposal goes forward.

🚨 SPEAK UP! Tell the BC NDP government to scrap the proposal. Send a message here: https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/�
Successive BC governments and logging companies have driven the forestry and biodiversity crises through decades of overcutting the most valuable, accessible old-growth forests.�
Temporary logging deferrals were an emergency measure to prevent irreversible biodiversity loss. Now, the push to increase timber supply frames deferrals as a "constraint" to overcome.�
The BC NDP government’s “Working Forest Zone” would lock much of the richest forests in BC into guaranteed logging zones (anti-forest conservation zones), with major impacts on wildlife, wild salmon, clean water, recreation, climate, and First Nations cultures.

The designation would also obstruct the public’s ability to protect and conserve forests unless other conservation areas are opened to logging or conservation options are removed from a similar area for private logging companies under the so-called “No Net Loss” policy.�
This is to support the BC NDP government’s goal of unsustainably logging 45 million cubic metres of wood each year, up from the roughly 30 million cubic metres currently logged annually (i.e. a 50% increase).

The long-promised Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework was supposed to deliver the “paradigm shift” called for in the Old-Growth Strategic Review. Putting ecosystem health first means making conservation needs the starting point for land-use decisions: asking what to leave first, not what to take first. This plan is the opposite.

🛑 Help stop the “Working Forest” proposal. Send a message, then share this with friends and family: https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/
—

09/20/2026

Action Alert! The BC NDP government’s “Working Forest” (anti-forest conservation) proposal threatens to lock many of the richest forests in BC into guaranteed logging zones, including major areas of endangered old-growth forests currently under logging deferrals. We cannot allow this to happen.

📢 Speak Up! Send a message to elected decision-makers in BC telling them to scrap this backwards proposal: https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/

If you’ve already sent a message, you can go a step further and:

📞 Call the office of the Premier: 250-387-1715
📞 Call the Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar: 250-387-6240
📞 Call the Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Randene Neill: 778-405-3094

Under its proposed “No Net Loss” policy, protecting a forest within the “Working Forest Zone” would require opening another conservation area to logging or removing conservation options elsewhere to maintain the timber supply to private logging companies on public/Crown and unceded First Nations lands.

The long-promised Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework was supposed to deliver the paradigm shift called for in the Old-Growth Strategic Review. But if the BC NDP government locks the core of productive forest lands in BC into guaranteed logging zones, with a target of increasing logging rates by 50%, the opportunity to deliver that paradigm shift will be gone. Putting ecosystem health first means making conservation needs the starting point for land-use decisions – asking what to leave first, not what to take first.

Send your message today and get friends to do the same!

See our media release for more info: https://ancientforestalliance.org/media-release-working-forest-proposal-revived-from-the-dead/

Speak up against guaranteed logging zones that block future forest protection. Send a letter today telling the BC government to scrap its Working Forest proposal.

09/19/2026

📣 URGENT: Tell the BC NDP government to scrap its “Working Forest” proposal: https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/

Already sent your message? Go a step further and:

🔸 Call the office of the Premier: 250-387-1715
🔸 Call the Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar: 250-387-6240
🔸 Call the Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Randene Neill: 778-405-3094

The BC NDP government is moving to lock in much of the richest forests in BC as guaranteed logging zones under a so-called “Working Forest” (anti-forest conservation) designation that would include major areas of endangered old-growth forests currently under logging deferrals.

The designation would obstruct the public’s ability to protect and conserve forests – unless other conservation areas are opened up to logging or conservation options are removed from a similar area for private logging companies, under the so-called “No Net Loss” policy.

The policy was first proposed in 2001 by the BC Liberal government and was vociferously fought by conservationists and First Nations with the full support of the BC NDP opposition, until the BC Liberal government backed down in 2004.

Now, the BC NDP government is attempting to implement a similar policy to foreclose conservation options and to support its goal to unsustainably log 45 million cubic metres of wood each year, up from the roughly 30 million cubic metres currently logged annually (ie., a 50% increase).

This cannot be allowed to happen.

Make your voice heard! Send an instant message here 👉 https://ancientforestalliance.org/ways-to-take-action-for-forests/stop-the-working-forest/

Speak up against guaranteed logging zones that block future forest protection. Send a letter today telling the BC government to scrap its Working Forest proposal.