Speak up for BC's coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem!

Dear Paov,

Until January 15, the BC government is accepting public comments on its plan to protect the endangered coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem, which is mostly located on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island and on the Gulf Islands. Now is your chance to stand up for the trees!

The endangered coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem contains breathtaking old-growth trees over 250 years old and is home to the majority of BC’s species at risk. But astonishingly, less than one per cent of the coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem is protected.

This new plan intends to increase protection of the ecosystem by a measly 0.43 per cent. This is a disappointing and underwhelming attempt to conserve the irreplaceable coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem.

The province says they are serious about old-growth protection but it doesn’t look like they’re doing much. Time is running out. Industrial logging and urban expansion continue to eliminate opportunities to conserve this beautiful forest ecosystem. It’s time for the government to stop making weak excuses and to start getting things done.