Old-growth Defence Action Group

A group of forest defenders marches through a destroyed old-growth forest to support a blockade against logging by Teal Cedar Ltd in the Fairy Creek Rainforest (Photo by Alex Harris)

ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE METHODS of liquidating old-growth forests in BC are auctions held by BC Timber Sales (BCTS), a division of the ministry of forests. In July 2021, after BCTS announced that it would auction three blocks of old-growth forest in pristine Argonaut Valley north of Revelstoke, a group of Revelstoke citizens formed the Old-growth Revylution. The Revylution set up a blockade on Bigmouth Forestry Road and communicated with area First Nations. First Nations representatives gave full support for defence of the old growth forest and encouraged their members to support the blockade.

This was fair warning to potential bidders that any attempt to log in the Argonaut would bring resistance, uncertainty and bad publicity for their company.

The Evergreen Alliance is monitoring BCTS sales schedules and organizing communications with the forestry companies most likely to bid on each auction. We will point out the ecological damage such logging would do, and the extent to which BC taxpayers would be subsidizing each proposed destruction of rare old-growth forests. Such communications would have the most impact, of course, if they included personal appeals from people living nearest to the threatened forests.

There are 12 BCTS sales divisions in the province, and the Old Growth Defence Action Group needs at least one local person to monitor what’s being proposed for their area. Wherever possible, obtaining photographs of the forest BCTS is proposing to remove would be invaluable, both as a communications asset and as an act of bearing witness.

The Evergreen Alliance will support any subsequent blockades that are organized to resist attempts to log BCTS auctioned blocks. To join the Old-growth Defence Action Group, contact us. To see what old-growth forest BCTS is planning to liquidate in your area, use the map below. Click on an orange dot for more information.

BC Timber Sales auction of old-growth forest on Vancouver Island