Protecting Old Growth

 

The Initiative

Our province-wide program, the Old-Growth Solutions Initiative, is working to safeguard the endangered old-growth forests in BC by co-creating new protected areas, with a special focus on Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas, at the most critical time in history for their protection.

Project Highlights

Kanaka Bar Band: T’eqt’aqtn Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area

Learn about our model project working to provide the key, end-to-end support to develop this incredible 350-square km Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area, located in one of BC’s most ecologically diverse regions!

Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation: Salmon Parks Initiative

Learn about our collaboration with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in support of their Salmon Parks Initiative, which will protect approximately 650-square km of their unceded lands, including highly endangered old growth coastal temperate rainforests!

Old Growth

BC contains some of the world’s most magnificent old-growth forests, where old-growth trees can grow as tall as a skyscraper and as wide as a living room. These forests are important repositories for biodiversity and support a suite of other essential services, including habitat for endangered species, climate regulation, flood control, clean water, wild salmon, First Nations cultures, tourism and recreation industries, and enhanced quality of life.

Status of Old Growth

Intensive industrial logging has vastly diminished what remains of BC’s unprotected old-growth forests. Today, less than 8% of the province’s most productive forests (those with the biggest trees) are left.

In order to protect what remains of these magnificent ecosystems, critical conservation funding gaps must first be addressed—the most important of which is funding for First Nations and other key parties who play a central role in deciding how land is used in their areas. Specifically, funding must be available to help communities build capacity and offset lost old-growth logging revenues so that they can plan for new protected areas. Support must also aim to help communities develop sustainable economic alternatives in industries that thrive with nature (e.g. eco and cultural tourism, recreation, clean energy, sustainable seafood, and much more).

The Old-Growth Solutions Initiative is being undertaken by the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF) in partnership with the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Ancient Forest Alliance. NBSF is raising private funds and working directly with communities to co-create new protected areas for endangered old growth.

With the help of our partners, we will strategically unlock and conjoin with other public and private funding to multiply our impact, ensuring that available resources go towards safeguarding these incredible forests for good.

With this project, NBSF will support the diverse communities and stakeholders who play a fundamental role in protecting old-growth forests. Our goals include supporting First Nation communities to establish new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), helping to buy and protect private lands, supporting small woodlot owners to protect old-growth forests, and funding the development of more sustainable and prosperous economies that can thrive with nature.

Your donation makes the critical difference for the fate of old growth.

Please donate today to help safeguard these magnificent ecosystems.

Learn About Old Growth

Interested in taking a guided old-growth hike with our team of conservationists in BC? Sign up to get the latest on our exclusive old-growth excursions!

* indicates required

In the News