Remember last fall when the BC government announced their old-growth plan? And they gave First Nations 30 days to decide if they were on board?
Yes, the limited timeline was a terrible idea. So First Nations took their time replying, which makes sense.
It takes a lot longer than 30 days to figure out an old-growth plan.
‘Namgis First Nation is the latest nation to get back to the government with a reply. First, the Huu-ay-aht responded in December, then the four Nations that make up the Na̲nwaḵolas Council came back in January.
The ‘Namgis have said they’ll make their own old-growth plans thank you. And that they’ll protect more land than the provincial strategy would have.
In a statement, the ‘Namgis says, “the Nation’s Technical Team have developed a plan which provides for longer-term protection for not only the old-growth.”
Their plan also protects “the ecosystems, wildlife and fishery resources in the areas containing the old-growth forests.”
The ‘Namgis say their plans “ensure the protection of ecosystems including old-growth areas for future generations.”
They also say the government plans aim to ” maintain (old-growth) for the short term until they are harvested at a later stage.”
While the provincial plan would have set aside 7,536 hectares of old-growth, the ‘Namgis plan protects 30,700 hectares.
‘Namgis Chief Don Svanvik says the Nation is also in “a joint planning project with Western Forest Products” and is “preparing a draft forest landscape plan for TFL 37, in the Nimpkish Valley, the heart of ‘Namgis Territory.”
According to their financial statement, Western Forest Products made more revenue than ever last year. So giving up some old-growth won’t hurt them.
