On the Provincial Day of Action for Old Growth Forests in BC, supporters in the Northern Capital will be setting up shop outside MLA Shirley Bond`s office.
“We’re concerned about the lack of protection for our globally unique interior old growth forests,” stated Jenn Matthews, outreach coordinator for the Conservation North. They have been documenting, through photography and video, the industrial harvesting of old growth spruce and cedar-hemlock forests for two years.
“We`re hoping to have it not be like a political protest but like a celebration of old growth.”
The Prince George-based organization has been pushing for the legal protection of endangered old growth forests in the interior since 2017, and have gained over 800 signatures from Bond’s constituency on their petition to implement an Old Growth Forest Protection Act.
Matthews said similar events will be taking place across the province.
“We just decided to pick one of our local MLA’s. We thought it would be good to connect with Shirley Bond over this, she’s been in power for so long, and she has a really good connection to the community and her political life obviously resonates with people.”
The number one thing Matthews said the group is trying to relay to people is the amount of old growth in the area.
“The ancient forest being protected has opened people’s eyes a bit to what’s out there, but that’s just a small postage stamp of that kind of ecosystem that’s even in this area. The more we talk to people, the more we let them know what’s going on, the more people can have a chance to actually care for it.”
The one-hour event takes place in front of 1350 5th Avenue at 12:00 PM on June 6th.
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