Q&A with Johnny Rodgers, Founding Slack Employee

Johnny and Jessica and their children.

Johnny Rodgers, founding employee of Slack, grew up in Ontario and moved to BC in 2005 where his passion for environmental advocacy ignited with his proximity to the endangered old-growth temperate forests of the province’s coastal regions. Both he and his wife, Jessica, became deeply impacted by their encounters with old growth and motivated to help protect them upon their growing awareness of the imminent industrial activities threatening what little remained of these ecosystems. Now parents to two little boys, they have committed themselves to helping preserve these imperiled forests for future generations. 

Here’s what Johnny had to say about his connection to old growth and why he supports NBSF:

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NBSF: What inspired you to support conservation efforts?

Johnny Rodgers: I’ve always held an interest in the natural world. I grew up in rural southern Ontario and spent a lot of my childhood exploring the lakes and forests near my home. As a young adult, I traveled quite a bit in Asia and Europe and even lived in New Zealand for a while. Eventually, life brought me back to Canada, and I spent a couple summers out west in Alberta and British Columbia. Those summers were real eye-openers for me because, for the first time, I got to see some of the more dramatic landscapes and ecosystems that we have right here in Canada and experience firsthand just how mind blowing they were compared to some of the other places I’d been!

I spent a summer on Vancouver Island in Tofino, where I became really inspired by my surroundings. A lot of my time was spent kayaking from Tofino harbour to Meares Island to see all of the giant trees there. It was amazing to observe the rich wildlife supported by such a healthy environment. I saw everything from whales and dolphins to eagles and bears. The nature there was simply unbelievable from the perspective of a farm boy who grew up in eastern Canada.

How did that experience in Tofino change you?

My experience there was transformative to say the least! It led us to move to BC full time shortly afterward. That’s where I began learning more about old-growth forests and all of the efforts to protect them. Like many people, I had a naive perspective on old growth; after the War in the Woods, I thought we weren’t logging old growth anymore. Even when the Great Bear Rainforest was established, I only thought about how great it was that we were finally protecting rainforests. I had no idea how much more work still needed to be done until I actually learned about their status and the state of forestry in BC.

What inspired you specifically to donate to NBSF?

Well, first and foremost, I was inspired by their project, the Old-Growth Solutions Initiative, to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests. I’ve spent years walking through these forests, and I can’t stomach the thought of them disappearing. What’s more is that these are globally unique ecosystems, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to contribute to their protection. That’s why I was compelled to support the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation and the Old-Growth Solutions Initiative because this project is actually working on the things that will lead to real, tangible outcomes for old-growth forests.

In getting to know the conservationists behind this project, I was struck by the integrity, passion, and knowledge everyone has for this cause. I’ve also seen incredible outcomes from the work of Ken Wu and TJ Watt [NBSF Co-founders], who’ve spent their careers helping to protect dozens of old-growth forests over the decades. We need more milestones and wins consistent with what they and their organizations have achieved. With their leadership and the work of the rest of the team behind this project, I’m confident that contributing to this initiative will have the highest likelihood to create real, meaningful returns for nature. 

Why is it important to support novel approaches to the environmental crisis?

This is something that really interests me, especially in today’s context. I think a lot of people are deeply concerned about causes like this one, and they have a big desire to see change. But oftentimes, I find that this desire isn’t matched by a general understanding of what it will actually take to create that change. That’s not to say that conventional activism is not important—because it is. We know it plays an important role in reaching people and spreading awareness about these problems. But it’s only one piece of what is a far more nuanced puzzle of things that need to come together to create real outcomes for nature.

We have to recognize just how entrenched we are in industries whose operations depend on environmental destruction. The reality is that a lot of communities and families are dependent on industry, and the economic sway and clout of these industries crosses many demographics, which ultimately influences the environmental policies that their elected representatives make. So we need more novel approaches that address the root-cause of this reality, which is why I support projects like the Old-Growth Solutions Initiative.

What excites you the most about NBSF?

I’m excited about the potential behind the NBSF model and the fact that it creates enduring value for communities in its approach to protecting ecosystems. The core concept is that ecosystems can be worth more standing to communities if the right conditions and supports are in place. If you can demonstrate this and eventually show that there is public appetite for such a model—where things like tourism, recreation, and other industries linked to protecting nature can be sustainable and prosperous sources of revenue—then eventually, it will become the more obvious and desirable option over industrial development. 

With the expertise and experience brought by everyone working behind NBSF, I believe that there is a real opportunity to create a roadmap for something that actually works—one that can gain legitimate public and political support.

What is your ideal vision for the future of old growth in BC?

My ultimate dream is that in a decade or so from now, I can visit a legislated Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area on Vancouver Island containing some of my favourite stands of old growth that  would have otherwise been logged. I hope that the Old-Growth Solutions Initiative can help this dream become reality.

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If you’re interested in helping protect endangered ecosystems in BC and across Canada, please consider making a donation at www.naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org/donate or contact Hania Peper, National Coordinator, at coordinator@naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org for more information.