Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee to hold six public meetings in ten days

VANCOUVER ISLAND - In light of the ecological crisis facing old-growth rainforests on Vancouver Island, activists with Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee are kicking off a multi-stop tour called Let’s Talk Forests.

Over the next ten days, the organizations will hold six public meetings to present the latest information on the status of old-growth rainforests and to hear from communities about the forest issues facing them.

“What happens in forests impacts people in forest communities, so it’s critical we get out and hear from them,” said Torrance Coste, Wilderness Committee Vancouver Island Campaigner. “We need to protect rare rainforest ecosystems and make a just transition to second-growth forestry in a way that doesn’t leave these communities and Indigenous Nations high and dry.”

The organizations will hold evening meetings in Port Hardy, Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Nanaimo and Duncan.

The vast majority of original rainforest on Vancouver Island has been logged, and the industry continues to log the equivalent of about twenty-five rugby fields of old-growth per day. The decline of original forest has serious ecological impacts on water, salmon, endangered species and climate change.

“Ancient rainforests are a frontline of climate change: changes to the climate impact these ecosystems and the destruction of these ecosystems impacts the climate,” said Mark Worthing, Conservation and Climate Campaigner with Sierra Club BC. “Clearcutting these carbon-storing rainforests causes very high emissions, and addressing climate change requires protecting them.”

Mismanagement of Vancouver Island’s rainforests is also taking an economic toll, with several more Island mills closing or shutting down this year.

“How do we make forestry work for ecosystems while prioritizing Indigenous rights and title and local, sustainable livelihoods?” Coste asked. “We don’t have all these answers, but we hope to find out.”

These meetings will be held on the territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast Salish peoples.

–30–

For more information, please contact:

Torrance Coste | Vancouver Island Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
250-516-9900, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org

Mark Worthing | Conservation and Climate Campaigner, Sierra Club BC
250-889-3575, mark@sierra@sierraclub.bc.ca

Let’s Talk Forests Tour Schedule:

Port Hardy: November 1st, 7-9pm, Cafe Guido, 7135 Market St

Campbell River: November 2nd, 7-9pm, Campbell River Community Centre, 401-11th Ave

Duncan: November 3rd, 7-9pm, Island Savings Centre, 2687 James St

Nanaimo: November 8th, 7-9pm, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth St

Port Alberni: November 9th, 6:30-8:30pm, Echo Community Centre, 4255 Wallace St

Courtenay: November 10th, 7-9pm, Native Sons Hall, 360 Cliffe Ave