Jump to content
  • Making the case for much greater conservation of BC forests


    David Broadland

    1645853110_MerrittfloodNovember152021.jpg.7e350c3d2ed745dd563d90986435c472.jpg

    How do we find the whole truth about the damage being done by BC’s logging industry—and then communicate that to the BC public?

     

    The purpose of the Evergreen Alliance is four-fold:

    First, it will explore fully the physical, economic and social impacts of BC’s extraordinary undertaking to replace its primary forests with limited-diversity plantations.

    Secondly, we will hold accountable those officials—both government and corporate—who are responsible for conducting this war on nature, for misrepresenting the damage that’s been done, and for hindering efforts to bring it to a close.

    Thirdly, we will create a comprehensive case for much greater conservation, restoration and regeneration of forested ecosystems and a vision of how BC’s own need for wood products can be met without destroying ecosystems.

    Fourthly, we provide a portal into actions you can take on various fronts, all aimed at making a positive difference for BC’s forests. Together with the tools and information we provide, and the skills and energy you and other like-minded citizens provide, these avenues of action are concrete measures that can be employed to preserve what remains of BC’s precious natural legacy.

    To be clear, by “much greater,” we mean a reduction in the volume of forest cut each year to around 20 percent of the current level of logging.

    The purpose of this section of the Evergreen Alliance website—Making the Case—is to generate ideas and actions that will allow the comprehensive case for much more forest conservation to be broadly amplified to the BC public and the rest of the world.

    Having spent close to 20 years publishing a print magazine that attempted to communicate ideas similar to those you will find on this site, and knowing how difficult it is to leverage mainstream media out of their perpetual state of shallow coverage, I have no illusions about the usefulness of newspapers, radio and TV to accelerate massive change. Institutions are not revolutionary, and a revolution in both action and communication is what’s needed to make the paradigm shift to much greater conservation of BC’s forests.

    Where will the revolution come from?

    Logging companies are not going to change voluntarily. The only way they can survive from year to year, as currently constituted, is to maximize the area of forest they destroy. Government, under current legislation, is not going to change. BC’s ministry of forests has been captured by the industry and is not going to reduce the cut unless the political system shifts ownership of the ministry of forests back into public hands. And mainstream media, especially those companies still dependent on cheap paper, are not going to suddenly start arguing against their own economic interests.

    To stop BC’s war on nature and conserve what’s left of our primary forests depends on us. We need new ideas on how to connect the public with a complex set of issues. The institutions that the public relies on for understanding such issues are not telling the public the whole truth (see the Fifth Estate’s video below, which did tell an important part of the truth).

    The Evergreen Alliance is a community of citizens, foresters, scientists and journalists collaborating to protect the future of BC forests. Working together toward greater conservation will require finding the truth about what’s happening to our forests and communicating what we find to the broadest possible audience. 

    Please ask yourself: “What’s my biggest revolutionary idea for how to unleash the whole truth about the destruction of BC forests?” Then tell us. Meaningful change has to start somewhere. It might as well be here and it needs to be now.  

     

     


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Hi Dave, What a fantastic initiative to invite and unify all stewards working on saving nature in BC, "sticks in a bundle are unbreakable", we can do this, is it possible to get a stand alone sharing link for your epic video on the home page?  It is shareworthy for social media, love the audible typing, facts and images chosen.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Our forests need only supply what we, the people need. The logging companies are here only for the immense profits they reap, without much consideration for the forests themselves, but solely for the increase they can achieve in profits for their shareholders. It is this that leads to overcutting just for profits and not for longevity. It is well past the time to end this reckless path we are on. Our provinccial government needs to change this and quickly.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I am a retired forest entomologist and professional forester (no longer registered).  I am astounded at the satellite images of current logging practices you folks have published - I am astounded that the government has allowed things to become so corrupt. It is beyond me how anyone can actually think that this is sustainable forest management. Forestry in BC needs a complete overhaul.   

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Continue the slideshow: Making the case for much greater conservation of BC forests

    Use the white forward arrow on the right side to move through the slideshow. As you proceed, you can click on a slide to learn more about that issue.

     

  • Tell a friend

    Love Evergreen Alliance? Tell a friend!
×
×
  • Create New...