Media Release: Province Expands BC Timber Sales Logging Powers Without Addressing Old-Growth Protection

April 16, 2026 Ken Wu

Ancient Forest Alliance photographer and campaign director TJ Watt stands beside an ancient western redcedar before and after it was cut down by BC Timber Sales in the Nahmint Valley near Port Alberni in Hupačasath, Tseshaht, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation territory.

New legislative changes to BC Timber Sales (BCTS) – the government’s own logging agency – increase logging rates while failing to protect the most at-risk old-growth ecosystems. Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) warn that the changes could be setting the stage for logging in conservation reserves under the guise of wildfire risk reduction.

Media Release: Conservationists Call on Carney Government to Make Good on Promised Support for Nature Protection in Canada

March 19, 2026 operations .

Photo: A mossy old-growth Sitka spruce forest on Vancouver Island filled with ferns. Well over 90% of the valley bottom old-growth forests in BC have been logged. Credit to TJ Watt.

The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA), a Canadian conservation organization that reaches nearly 200,000 people across its social media platforms, is calling on the federal Liberal government to make good on their promise to support the protection of nature in Canada.

Statement: Budget 2026 Shortchanges Nature Protection and Sustainable Forestry Transition At a Critical Time for British Columbia

February 19, 2026 Ken Wu

BC’s Budget 2026, released on Tuesday, fails to provide the funding needed to secure lasting protection for endangered ecosystems and at-risk old-growth forests in the province, while prioritizing industrial resource extraction.

Media Release: Five Years After Old Growth Strategic Review, BC Government Stalls Progress and Starts to Backslide

September 11, 2025 Ken Wu

A sprawling old-growth clearcut, nearly 40 hectares in size, logged by Teal-Jones in the Caycuse Valley in Ditidaht territory on Vancouver Island, BC. Hundreds of ancient cedars, some measuring more than 10 feet (3 metres) wide, were logged here.

Conservation groups highlight five of the most shocking images of old-growth logging from the past five years, marking OGSR’s fifth anniversary with an urgent call for immediate government action to protect ancient forests

Media Release: $1.2B Federal Forestry Funding Is BC’s Chance to Future-Proof Economy With Smart, Modern Forest Industry

September 11, 2025 Ken Wu

A logging truck hauls old-growth trees, including a giant redcedar, along the shores of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, BC.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) are calling on the BC and federal governments to tie the federal government’s $1.25 billion softwood lumber industry support package, announced by Prime Minister Carney in August and reaffirmed at his “strategic response fund” announcement to US tariffs last week, to help transition BC’s forest industry into a sustainable, value-added second-growth industry and away from old-growth logging.

Media Release: BC Government Confirms No Commercial Logging in Provincial Parks Amid Rising Concerns in General for Protected Areas

June 27, 2025 Ken Wu

An old-growth Ponderosa pine in the Interior, fire-driven ecosystems in the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area.

Media Release: BC Government Confirms No Commercial Logging in Provincial Parks Amid Rising Concerns in General for Protected Areas

The BC Ministry of Environment and Parks has officially confirmed that provincial parks are off-limits to commercial logging, responding to a formal inquiry from the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA). This comes amid growing public alarm that efforts to reduce the risk of forest fires can be misused to permit commercial logging in protected areas. While the confirmation provides some reassurance, the groups also warn that forest conservation reserves like Old-Growth Management Areas (OGMAs) may remain susceptible to commercial logging under the guise of fire-risk reduction, and like many conservation reserves, including Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) and Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs), have logging loopholes that need to be closed.

MEDIA RELEASE: Earth Day: Environmental Groups to BC Government – Go Forward, Not Backward on Old-Growth Protection and Modernization of BC Forestry

April 22, 2025 Ken Wu

This Earth Day, the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) are calling on the BC government to refocus on their incomplete measures to protect old-growth forests, implement their draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, and ensure a transition to a sustainable, value-added second-growth forest industry. At the same time, the groups are issuing a strong warning: commercial logging must not be permitted in protected areas under the guise of wildfire risk reduction.

Biggest Old-Growth Protected Areas Victory in Years: Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and BC NDP Government Declare protection of 76,000 hectares in Conservancies in Clayoquot Sound.

June 19, 2024 Ken Wu

Conservationists are applauding the leadership of the Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and BC NDP government for yesterday declaring the protection of 76,000 hectares of land – an area about the size of Manning Provincial Park - in new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino. Most of the lands committed for protection are comprised of some of the grandest and most intact coastal old-growth temperate rainforests on Earth, and the new protected areas will represent the largest old-growth forest protected areas victory in BC since the Great Bear Rainforest conservancies were announced in 2006. The historic milestone also includes major support from provincial, federal and conservation sources to facilitate sustainable economic development opportunities for the communities to facilitate their economic and social well-being.

New protected areas law a ‘game-changer’ for nature and biodiversity protection

June 13, 2024 Ken Wu

OTTAWA, ON - Today, conservation and environmental groups are applauding the federal environment Minister’s introduction of the Nature Accountability Bill, in keeping with commitments under the United Nations Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

This first-of-its-kind law would, if passed, enshrine Canada’s biodiversity protection targets into law, including its commitment to protect 30% of lands and water by 2030. There is clear evidence that nature and biodiversity is in crisis, with a million species at risk of extinction over the next few years, according to scientists. Without action, nature will remain in a dangerous decline.

Media Release: BC Opens the Door for a Potential Paradigm Shift in Conservation: Prioritizing the Most Endangered Ecosystems via Ecosystem-Based Targets

November 15, 2023 Ken Wu

Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director, Ken Wu, stands amongst the spectacular yet unprotected ancient forests of the Mossome Grove near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

If done right, conservationists say the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework (BEHF) could ensure the protection of the most endangered and least protected ecosystems, such as big-treed old-growth forests (“high productivity” old-growth forests with the classic forest giants) and diverse valley bottom and low elevation ecosystems - rather than the status quo of primarily protecting areas of low timber values (alpine, subalpine, bog). Conservationists commend the vision in the draft framework for being a potentially revolutionary game-changer in conservation - the devil will be in the details when the framework is completed in the spring.

Media Release: BC Launches Vital Conservation Financing Mechanism to Protect Old-Growth Forests and Ecosystems

October 26, 2023 Ken Wu

Endangered Ecosystems Alliance Executive Director, Ken Wu, stands beside a giant Sitka spruce tree in an old-growth forest west of Lake Cowichan in Ditidaht territory.

BC Launches Vital Conservation Financing Mechanism to Protect Old-Growth Forests and Ecosystems

Starting with an initial $300 million of provincial and philanthropic funding, the indispensable fund that will “fuel” or power the creation of new protected areas by supporting First Nations protected areas initiatives will continue to grow with additional federal, provincial, and private funds. Conservationists give thanks to Premier Eby for fulfilling a key commitment.

Media Release: Conservation Groups Urge BC Government to Hurry Up and Close Gaps in Old-Growth Protection

September 11, 2023 Ken Wu

An aerial view over the intact McKelvie Valley near Tahsis in Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory where 2231 hectares (1852 hectares of old-growth) are now deferred from logging. Credit: TJ Watt - Ancient Forest Alliance

Today on the three-year anniversary of the BC government’s September 2020 acceptance of the Old-Growth Strategic Review Panel’s 14 recommendations to ensure a “paradigm shift” in the conservation and management of old-growth forests in the province, the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) and Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are urging the BC government to hurry up and close the gaps in old-growth protection in BC.

“The BC government under Premier Eby has taken some great steps forward in policy commitments: pledging to double protected areas from 15% to 30% of BC’s land area over the next seven years (it took over a century to protect the first 15%), bring major conservation financing support for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and to target protection for biodiverse areas, which would naturally include the productive old-growth forests with big trees. Premier Eby started off strong nine months ago with these commitments, and now he needs to pick it up and close the remaining gaps to secure old-growth logging deferrals in all of the most at-risk old-growth forests and to ensure that funding and protection go to the right areas,” stated Ken Wu, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director.

Media Release: Motion For Old-Growth Fund & Export Ban Introduced By MP Patrick Weiler

May 5, 2023 Ken Wu

Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director Ken Wu stands beside a giant old-growth redcedar tree growing unprotected on Nootka Island in Mowachaht/ Muchalaht territory.

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) give great thanks to Member of Parliament Patrick Weiler (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country) for his new motion to help protect old-growth forests in BC and Canada.

Weiler has crafted a motion, introduced into federal Parliament yesterday, calling for the $82 million BC Old-Growth Protection Fund (increased from $50 million previously, and contingent on matching BC funding that would bring it to $164 million), to end the international export of old-growth raw logs and wood products from across Canada as quickly as possible (and by no later than 2030), and to protect old-growth on federal lands on Department of National Defense and National Park lands from any destructive infrastructure developments.

Media Release: The BC government starts laying the path for expanded forest conservation

February 15, 2023 Ken Wu

Kanaka Bar Indian Band Lands Manager Sean O’Rourke and Junior Land Guardian Domonique Samson stand by an old-growth Ponderosa pine tree in the band’s T’eqt’aqtn’mux Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) proposal, which is being supported by the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Ancient Forest Alliance. About 125 square kilometers of old-growth forests will be encompassed by the IPCA when finalized.

The BC NDP government has removed the “unduly restrict clause” from forest planning that has limited forest conservation measures for decades, committed to developing a conservation financing mechanism to support First Nations economic development linked to new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA’s), committed more support to expand value-added forest industries, and with First Nations has added about 200,000 hectares of additional old growth forests into logging deferral areas.

Media Release: Closing the Conservation Gaps in Canada: Provincial buy-in, protection targets for all ecosystems, and conservation financing for Indigenous Protected Areas needed

December 14, 2022 Ken Wu

A hardwood swamp forest in the Minesing wetlands of southern Ontario

Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) calls for a federal “Endangered Ecosystems Act” to ensure protected areas targets are devised for all ecosystems, to motivate the provinces to adopt protection targets and to ensure funding for protected areas expansion

Montreal - As 196 countries meet in Montreal at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) to negotiate new international protected areas targets and policies, conservation groups are increasing their pressure on the Canadian and provincial governments to close the conservation gaps in expanding the protected areas system in Canada.

Media Release: BC’s New Premier David Eby commits to double protected areas by 2030 & to develop a conservation financing mechanism for IPCAs

December 9, 2022 Ken Wu

Conservationist Vicky Husband and Endangered Ecosystems Alliance executive director Ken Wu stand among unprotected old-growth redcedars in the Jurassic Grove on southern Vancouver Island in Pacheedaht territory near Port Renfrew

Yesterday in his mandate letter to the new Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen, BC’s new Premier David Eby committed BC for the first time to protecting 30% of the province’s land area by 2030 (currently 15% is protected). He also tasked Cullen to work with First Nations to support new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA’s) and to help “develop a new conservation financing mechanism to support protection of biodiverse areas.”

Media Release: Before COP15, Conservation Groups call on BC Government to Commit to Funding and Targets to Expand Protected Areas in BC

November 30, 2022 Ken Wu

EEA Executive Director Ken Wu in the Jursassic Grove on Southern Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew in Pacheedat territory

BC has a chance to protect the most endangered ecosystems and promote community economic, social and cultural well-being linked to nature conservation - and also to finally end the War in the Woods over old-growth forests.

Media Release: 250 Businesses Call on BC Government to Commit to Ambitious Targets and Funding to Expand BC’s Protected Areas System

November 15, 2022 Ken Wu

The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance has released a resolution signed by 250 businesses, including 228 based in BC, calling on the BC government to help avert the extinction and climate crises and to benefit our health and the BC economy by committing to meet Canada’s national and international protected areas targets (to protect 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 of Canada’s land and marine areas) at a minimum in BC and to ensure adequate funding to enable these goals. This includes protecting BC’s old-growth forests, ensuring protection targets for every ecosystem-type (ie. not just overall provincial targets), and to provide the necessary funding particularly for First Nations sustainable economic development that would enable new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA’s) to be established.

Media Release: Spin-filled Announcement Reveals BC Government’s Failure to Ensure Net Gains in Old-Growth Logging Deferrals

November 3, 2022 Ken Wu

**An ancient redcedar cut in the Caycuse Valley in 2021 on southern Vancouver Island in Ditidaht territory. Photo by TJ Watt**

Yesterday, the BC government released new and misleading statistics about old-growth logging on the one year anniversary of its science panel’s recommendations that logging should be deferred on millions of hectares of the most at-risk old-growth forests in BC. In November of 2021, the province’s independent science panel, the Technical Advisory Panel, recommended that the rarest, grandest, and oldest fraction of the remaining unprotected old-growth forests in BC, totalling 2.6 million hectares, be deferred from logging, while the province developed new management policies and legislation based on its Old-Growth Strategic Review panel’s recommendations.

Media Release: Conservation group buys one of BC’s most diverse Old-Growth Forests for First Nations

October 11, 2022 Ken Wu

***Kanaka Bar leaders and conservationists, from left to right:*** Kanaka Bar CEO Greg Grayson, Kanaka Bar Lands Manager Sean O'Rourke, Kanaka Bar Chief Jordan Spinks, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance Outreach Director Celina Starnes, Nature-Based Solutions Foundation Co-Founder Ken Wu, Nature-Based Solutions Foundation National Coordinator Hania Peper, Ancient Forest Alliance Campaigner TJ Watt. Photo by TJ Watt.

One of our partner organizations, the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF), has just completed the purchase of perhaps the most diverse old-growth forest in BC - with both dry-adapted old-growth Ponderosa pine and wet-adapted western redcedar growing side-by-side - to be gifted with a conservation covenant to the Kanaka Bar Indian Band whose unceded territory it is on.

Read their press release here.

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