Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

As more than 90 scientists working at the intersection of ecosystems and climate change, we are deeply concerned by the evidence of continued deforestation and degradation of primary forests globally and in Canada because of the resulting impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the biodiversity crisisi. Canada’s primary boreal and temperate forests have a vital role to play as natural climate solutions, and it is important that their protection is central to Canada’s climate and biodiversity policies.

The climate and biodiversity crises are inextricably linked and require solutions that address them in tandemii. Among the most urgent, critical solutions at the intersection of these crises is the protection of the world’s primary forests (those that have never been industrially disturbed and where natural processes prevail) and older forests, which have unique and irreplaceable ecological values and provide among the most effective, large-scale climate mitigation benefitsiii. Addressing the threat of climate change requires both the elimination of our dependence on fossil fuels and the preservation of the world’s primary and older (old growth and mature) forestsiv. In short, these forests are a critical lifeline to a safe climate as they sequester and store massive amounts of carbon, provide essential habitats, and often have high levels of biodiversity that provide unique natural solutions to both crises.

With the release of Canada’s 2030 Emission Reduction Plan this spring, we strongly recommend the Government of Canada use this opportunity to advance measures to protect primary forests and older forests, and to make their protection a key pillar of its natural climate solutions commitments. We further recommend that the Government of Canada commit to improve the accuracy and transparency of its national greenhouse gas emissions accounting for and reporting of emissions from its logging sectorv.

Primary forests have unique values and provide significant benefits for addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. These increasingly rare forests, which account for between approximately one- quartervi and one-thirdvii of forests globally, hold 30-50% more carbon per hectare than logged forests, and provide a continuing sink for carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasesviii, while also providing critical habitat for at-risk speciesix. Canada is the steward of a substantial proportion (~16%x) of the world’s remaining primary forests, with some of the last large stretches of these irreplaceable ecosystems found in its boreal forest, which contains globally significant stocks of ecosystem carbon.

When primary forests, whether in Canada or elsewhere, are logged they release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate changexi. Because primary forest ecosystems store more carbon than secondary forests, replacing primary forests with younger stands, as Canada is doing, ultimately reduces the forest ecosystem’s overall carbon stocks, contributing to atmospheric greenhouse gas levels.

Even if a clearcut forest eventually regrows, it can take over a decade to return to being a net absorber of carbonxii, and the overall carbon debt in carbon stocks that were removed from older forests can take centuries to repay, a luxury we simply no longer havexiii. Recent studies also indicate that soil disturbance associated with logging results in large emissions of methane (CH4)xiv, a powerful greenhouse gas second only to CO2 in its climate forcing effects. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently concluded, we have under a decade to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid exceeding 1.5 degrees C of warming, meaning any continued loss of primary forests erodes our remaining atmospheric carbon budget. Responding to the latest climate projections, UN Secretary General António Guterres’ issued a “code red emergency”xv. Importantly, the Glasgow Climate Pact (paragraph 38) emphasizes the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring nature and ecosystems to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goal, including through forests acting as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases and by protecting biodiversityxvi.

Primary forests are also generally more resilient than logged forests to wildfiresxvii and other natural disturbances likely to worsen with the climate crisis. Notably, clearcutting and other intensive logging practices are often associated with more intense wildfiresxviii. Thus, achieving the most stable, resilient possible forest carbon stores requires protecting primary forests from industrial logging.

While we commend Canada for its commitment to natural climate solutions as a climate priority, we are concerned by the rate of continued industrial logging in primary forests from the boreal to coastal rainforests and the absence of a comprehensive primary forest protection policy. Replacement of these carbon-dense, biodiverse forests with lower-carbon, less biodiverse secondary forests is undermining global climate progress and contributing to the biodiversity crisis. In Canada, only 15 of 51 boreal caribou herds, which rely on primary and older forests, have sufficient habitat left to survive long-termxix. Additionally, only about a quarter of forests in British Columbia are old-growth and of these, only about 3% are highly productive with large treesxx.

We strongly encourage Canada to adopt policies that will incentivize protection of primary and older forests, particularly under the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and in accordance with Indigenous Peoples’ internationally recognized rights. Where Indigenous land rights are strong, ecosystems’ climate and biodiversity values tend to be better protected, and Indigenous Peoples’ meaningful participation and leadership is foundational to equitable and effective forest protection policies. We also encourage Canada to undertake a comprehensive review of its forest carbon accounting and quantification practices. Recent global studies have shown significant disparities between national greenhouse gas inventories and actual atmospheric emissions, most egregiously in the land sectorxxi. Given Canada’s large forest area and high logging rates, accurate forest emissions accounting is essential to ensuring the integrity of Canada’s overall climate goals. More accurate accounting and reporting will help ensure that Canada is properly valuing the climate benefit of its primary forests and the environmental costs of industrial logging.

The decisions Canada makes regarding its primary forests over the next few years will have profound ramifications for the global climate and biodiversity crises. Canada’s primary and older forests have a key role to play in preserving a safe and livable world, and the Government can make a significant contribution by prioritizing keeping these vital and irreplaceable ecosystems standing.

Sincerely,

Note: Institutional affiliations listed for identification purposes only.

Dr. William Anderson
Professor Emeritus, College of Charleston

Dr. William L. Baker
Professor Emeritus of Geography, Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming

Dr. Bruce Baldwin
Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California - Berkeley

Dr. Jennifer Baltzer
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change, Department of Biology, Wilfred Laurier University

Shannon Barber-Meyer, PhD

Linda Sue Barnes
Professor Emeritus, Methodist University

Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger Independent Scientist

Scott Black
Executive Director, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Dr. Mary S. Booth
Director, Partnership for Policy Integrity

Dr. Richard Bradley
Associate Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University

Eric Burr
National Park Ranger (retired), Methow Conservancy

Dr. Philip Cafaro
Professor, Colorado State University

John Cannon
Director, Conservation Biology Institute

Maxine Cannon
Director of Field Research, Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Kai Chan
Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia

Dr. Terry Chapin
Professor Emeritus of Ecology, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Dr. Donald Charles
Senior Scientist, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Michelle Connolly
Director, Conservation North

Dr. Kieran Cox
Liber Ero and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Fraser University

Dave Daust Independent Forester

Dr. Catherine de Rivera
Professor, Portland State University

Dr. Dominick Della Sala Chief Scientist, Wild Heritage

Craig Downer
Wildlife Ecologist, Andean Tapir Fund

Jérôme Dupras
Titulaire, Chaire de recherche du Canada en économie écologique, Université de Québec en Outaouais

Jerry Freilich
Research Coordinator (retired), National Park Service

Dr. Lee Frelich
Director of the Center for Forest Ecology, University of Minnesota

John Gerwin
Research Curator - Ornithology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Steven Green
Professor Emeritus (Biology), University of Miami

Dr. Jon Grinnell
Uhler Chair in Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College

Dr. Charles Halpern
Research Professor, Emeritus, University of Washington

Dr. Kenneth Helms
Research Associate, University of Vermont

Trevor Hesselink
Director, Policy and Research, Wildlands League

Dr. Eric Higgs
Professor at the School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria

Dr. Bill Hilton Jr
Executive Director, Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History

Dr. Rachel F. Holt
Director, Veridian Ecological Consulting

Dr. Elizabeth Horvath
Associate Professor, Biology, Westmont College

Mrill Ingram
Participatory Action Research Scientist, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Mitchell Johns
Professor Emeritus of Soil and Plant Science, California State University - Chico

Dr. Jay Jones
Professor Emeritus of Biology and Biochemistry, University of La Verne

Dr. James R. Karr
Professor Emertius, University of Washington

Dr. Keith Kisselle
Associate Professor of Biology & Environmental Science, Austin College

Dr. Richard Kool
Professor at the School of Environment and Sustainability, Royal Roads University

Dr. Brian Linkhart
Professor of Biology, Colorado College

Dr. Brendan Mackey
Director - Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University

Andy Mackinnon
Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University

Dr. Jay Malcolm
Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Travis Marsico
Professor of Botany and Curator, STAR Herbarium, Arkansas State University

Dr. Tara Martin
Professor and Liber Ero Conservation Chair, University of British Columbia

Dr. Faisal Moola
Associate Professor - Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph

Rob Mrowka
Senior Scientist (retired)

John Mull
Professor of Zoology, Weber State University

William Newmark
Research Curator, Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah

Dr. Katarzyna Nowak
Assistant Professor, Białowieża Geobotanical Station

Dr. Sarah Otto
Professor, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia

Dr. Paul Paquet
Senior Scientist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Dr. Timothy Pearce
Curator of Collections, Mollusks, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Dr. Stuart Pimm
Professor of Conservation Biology, Duke University

Dr. Jim Pojar
Trustee, Skeena Wild Conservation Trust

Dr. Roger Powell
Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University

Thomas Power
Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Montana

Dr. Karen Price
Member of BC Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel

Robert Pyle, Ph.D. and Hon. FRES Independent Scholar

Dr. Peter Quinby
Chair and Chief Scientist, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research

Dr. James Quinn
Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University

Dr. Jennifer Riddell University of California

Dr. George Robinson
Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences, University at Albany-SUNY

Dr. Holmes Rolston
Professor of Philosophy, University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University

Matthew Rubino
Research Scholar, North Carolina State University

Nicanor Saliendra Ecologist, USDA ARS

Dr. Melissa Savage
Emerita Associate Professor, University of California Los Angeles

Dr. Hanno Schaefer
Professor, Technical University of Munich

Paul Schaeffer
Associate Professor, Miami University

Dr. Paula Schiffman
Professor of Biology, California State University – Northridge

Peter C. Schulze, PhD
Professor of Biology & Environmental Science, Austin College Center for Environmental Studies Director, Center for Environmental Studies
Director, Sneed Prairie Restoration

Dr. Suzanne Simard
Professor, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia

Dr. Tom Sisk
Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University

Dr. Risa Smith
Co-Chair, Protected Areas Climate Change Specialist Group at the World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Dr. Oliver Sonnentag
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, Université de Montréal

Dan Spencer, PhD
Professor, Environmental Studies, The University of Montana

Dr. Timothy Spira
Emeritus Professor of Ecology/Botany, Clemson University

Dr. James Strittholt
President and Executive Director, Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Michael Swift
Assistant Professor Emeritus, St. Olaf College

John Talberth, PhD
President and Senior Economist, Center for Sustainable Economy Co-Director, Forest Carbon Coalition

Dr. Sean Thomas
Professor and Canada Research Chair, Forests and Environmental Change at the University of Toronto

Dr. Edward Thornton University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Mathilde Tissier
Liber Ero Fellow, Bishop's University

Pepper Trail
Ornithologist (retired), US Fish and Wildlife Service

Dr. Vicki Tripoli
Science Advisory Board, Geos Institute

Dr. Walter Tschinkel
Professor Emeritus of Biological Science, Florida State University

Rick Van de Poll
Principal, Ecosystem Management Consultants

Greg Walker
Professor Emeritus, University of California, Riverside

Donald Waller
J.T. Curtis Professor (retired), University of Wisconsin - Madison

Dr. Glenn Walsberg
Professor Emeritus, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University

Dr. Vicki Watson
Professor Emeritus , University of Montana

Dr. Judith Weis
Professor Emerita, Rutgers University

Jeffrey Wells, PhD
Vice-President of Boreal Conservation, National Audubon Society

Peter Wood, PhD
Senior Corporate Campaigner, Canopy

CC: Minister Jonathan Wilkinson & Minister Steven Guilbeault

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ii W. Ripple et al., “The Climate Emergency: 2020 In Review,” Scientific American, 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-climate-emergency-2020-in-review/. C.V. Barber et al., The Nexus Report: Nature Based Solutions to the Biodiversity and Climate Crisis, F20 Foundations, Campaign for Nature and SEE Foundation, https://www.foundations-20.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-Nexus-Report.pdf.

iii B. Mackey et al., “Policy Options for the World’s Primary Forests in Multilateral Environmental Agreements,” Conservation Letters, 8, 139-147, 2014, https://primaryforest.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mackey-et-al-2014- Policy-Options-for-Worlds-Primary-Forests.pdf.

iv D.A. DellaSala et al. “Primary forests are undervalued in the climate emergency.” Bioscience 70, no. 6, 2020, https://scientists.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sites/sw/files/biaa030.pdf.

v T.W. Hudiburg et al., “Meeting GHG Reduction Targets Requires Accounting for All Forest Sector Emissions,” Enviro. Res. Letters, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab28bb.

vi D. Morales-Hidalgo et al., “Status and Trends in Global Primary Forest, Protected Areas, and Areas Designated for Conservation of Biodiversity from the Global Forest Resources Assessment,” Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 68-77, 2015, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112715003370.

vii B. Mackey et al., “Policy Options for the World’s Primary Forests in Multilateral Environmental Agreements,” Conservation Letters, 8, 139-147, 2014, https://primaryforest.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mackey-et-al-2014-Policy-Options-for-Worlds-Primary-Forests.pdf.

viii S. Luyssaert et al. “Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks,” Nature, 455(7210), 213-215, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07276

ix D.A. DellaSala et al., “Primary Forests Are Undervalued in the Climate Emergency,” BioScience 70, no. 6, 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341277924_Primary_Forests_Are_Undervalued_in_the_Climate_Emergency.

x Morales-Hidalgo, et al., “Status and Trends in Global Primary Forest, Protected Areas, and Areas Designated for Conservation of Biodiversity from the Global Forest Resources Assessment,” Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 68-77, 2015, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112715003370.

xi T.W. Hudiburg et al., “Meeting GHG Reduction Targets Requires Accounting for All Forest Sector Emissions,” Enviro. Res. Letters, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab28bb.

xii C. Coursolle et al., “Influence of stand age on the magnitude and seasonality of carbon fluxes in Canadian forests,” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 165, no 15, 2012, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168192312002109; W.A. Kurz et al., “Carbon in Canada’s Boreal Forest—A Synthesis, ” Environmental Review 21, no. 4, 2013, https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/er- 2013-0041.

xiii B. Mackey et al., “Untangling the Confusion Around Land Carbon Science and Climate Change Mitigation Policy,” Nature Climate Change, June 2013, www.nature.com/natureclimatechange.

xiv J. Vantellingen and S.C. Thomas. “Skid trail effects on soil methane and carbon dioxide flux in a selection- managed northern hardwood forest”. Ecosystems, 24, 1402-1421, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-020-00591- 8. J. Vantellingen and S.C. Thomas, S.C. “Log Landings Are Methane Emission Hotspots in Managed Forests,” Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 51, 1916-1925, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2021-0109.

xv United Nations, “Secretary-General Calls Latest IPCC Climate Report ‘Code Red for Humanity’, Stressing ‘Irrefutable’ Evidence of Human Influence, press release, Aug. 9, 2021, https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sgsm20847.doc.htm.

xvi Glasgow Climate Pact https://unfccc.int/documents/310497.

xvii C.M. Bradley et al., “Does Increased Forest Protection Correspond to Higher Fire Severity in Frequent-Fire Forests of the Western United States?” Ecosphere 7:1-13, 2016, https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.1492#:~:text=We%20found%20no%20evidence% 20to,linear%20mixed%2Deffects%20modeling%20approaches.

xviii C. Stone et al, “Forest Harvest Can Increase Subsequent Forest Fire Severity,” Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Fire Economics, Planning, and Policy: A Global View, 2004,

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1198&context=usdafsfacpub. J.R. Thompson, et al,, “Reburn Severity in Managed and Unmanaged Vegetation in a Large Wildfire,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104, no. 25, 20746, June 19, 2007, https://www.pnas.org/content/104/25/10743.

xix ECCC, Amended Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population, in Canada 2020, Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, 2020, https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk- registry/virtual_sara/files/plans/Rs-CaribouBorealeAmdMod-v01- 2020Dec-Eng.pdf.

xx K. Price et al., “Conflicting Portrayals of Remaining Old Growth: The British Columbia Case,” Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2021, https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjfr-2020-0453.

xxi G. Grassi et al., “Critical Adjustment of Land Mitigation Pathways for Assessing Countries’ Climate Progress,” Nature 11, 2021, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01033-6. C. Mooney et al., “Countries’ Climate Pledges Built on Flawed Data, Post Investigation Finds,” The Washington Post, Nov. 7, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2021/greenhouse-gas-emissions-pledges-data/.