Ha-Shilth-Sa: Mowachaht/Muchalaht awarded $15 million to protect old growth and salmon

January 16, 2024 Ken Wu

A project to protect a significant portion of Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory has been pledged $15-million from the federal government, fueling an initiative to save old growth and salmon populations in Nootka Sound over the next generation.

On Oct. 30 Canada’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change sent a letter to Eric Angel, project manager for the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation’s Salmon Parks initiative. This confirmed over $15 million in funding for the project, payable up to March 31, 2026.

Campbell River News Mirror: First Nation creating new Salmon Parks to protect fragile ecosystems

January 15, 2024 Ken Wu

Over 650 square kilometres of forest, rivers, old growth and shoreline are in the process of being protected by the Mowachaht / Muchalaht First Nation on western Vancouver Island.

The Importance of Recognizing Progress and Giving Thanks in Environmental Campaigns

December 31, 2023 Ken Wu

Mule deer in badlands (Alberta); Blue Lake in Ponderosa pine forests (BC); Hardwood swamp near Lac St. Pierre (Quebec); golden fall tamaracks Laurentian Mountains (Quebec); hatched snapping turtle Carolinian ecosystem (Ontario). Clockwise. — Photos (Clockwise from top left): Mule deer in the badlands of Alberta; Beautiful Blue Lake in the Ponderosa pine forests of the South Okanagan in BC; Hardwood swamp near Lac St. Pierre in Quebec; Beautiful golden tamarack's in the fall in Quebec's Laurentian Mountains; Tiny newly hatched snapping turtle in the Carolinian ecosystems of Norfolk County in southern Ontario. Photos by Ken Wu.

The Importance of Recognizing Progress and Giving Thanks in Environmental Campaigns

An essay by Ken Wu

Executive Director, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance

National Observer: The U.S. is banning old-growth logging. Why can’t we? (national Observer)

December 28, 2023 Ken Wu

The U.S. has pledged to ban old-growth logging, but protecting Canada's ancient forests won't be as simple, stakeholders say.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework - Public Input Guide

December 21, 2023 Ken Wu

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework - Public Input Guide

The following info will help you write your own submission to the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework public input process, which is due by January 31st, 2024. Send your submission in your own words to the

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Ministry of WLRS): biodiversity.ecosystemhealth@gov.bc.ca

SEND a MESSAGE: Protect BC's Old-Growth Forests and Endangered Ecosystems - "Ecosystem-Based Targets" are Vital!

December 21, 2023 Ken Wu

To protect BC's diverse ecosystems, BC needs "Ecosystem-Based Targets" that are sufficiently refined and stringent to guide the forthcoming expansion of its protected areas system.

Speak up directly through the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework process by writing your own feedback at biodiversity.ecosystemhealth@gov.bc.ca by January 31st, 2024 and SEND a MESSAGE!

The Narwhal (Opinion): Is B.C. finally getting real about protecting nature? (The Narwhal)

December 1, 2023 Ken Wu

A historic turning point in how the province prioritizes conservation over industry profits also shows Indigenous Rights and protecting biodiversity go hand-in-hand

Globe and Mail: ‘Salmon parks’ in traditional First Nations territory aim to save habitats by stopping old-growth logging

November 29, 2023 Ken Wu

Celina Starnes, Endangered Ecosystems Alliance’s Operations and Outreach Director, looks up at the big-leaf maple grove of the Burman River valley, which lies within the Mowachaht/Muchalaht salmon-park system. Photo Credit: TJ Watt

New plan from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, aided by the B.C. and federal governments, signals a shift in Indigenous-led conservation across the province

Backed by a $15.2-million commitment from the federal government, a First Nations community on the west coast of Vancouver Island intends to buy out forestry tenures to stop old-growth logging in selected watersheds around Nootka Sound.

Global TV: Draft policy could be a game-changer for B.C. old-growth protection, conservationist says

November 24, 2023 Ken Wu

Watch the news video here.

This draft policy is being described as a "game changer" in efforts to protect B.C.'s old growth forests. As Paul Johnson reports, conservationists are welcoming a draft plan from the provincial government that would not only consider the economic but also the ecological value of our forests.

CBC - BC'S Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, Conservation Financing and Old-Growth Forests with Ken Wu- On the Island with Gregor Craigie

November 16, 2023 Ken Wu

Today's CBC Interview with the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance’s (Note: Not the Ancient Forest Alliance) executive director Ken Wu on the newly announced Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, the potential ecosystem-based protection targets that it may usher in, and how it relates to the new conservation financing funds in BC worth over $1 billion…and what it all means for old-growth forests.

‘Potential paradigm shift’: Activists are hopeful for BC’s new environmental protections (Victoria Buzz)

November 15, 2023 Ken Wu

BC’s government is trying to implement further steps to protect and preserve the province’s at-risk environment through a new biodiversity and ecosystem health framework (BEHF).

Right now the BEHF is just a draft proposal, but Nathan Cullen, the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, is hopeful that it will become legislation and allow for the preservation of BC’s well-known natural landscapes.

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.

Early November 2023 BC Old-growth and Protected Area Policies Update

November 15, 2023 Ken Wu

See 3 small update videos on where BC old-growth and protected area policies are at as of early November 2023

Year end Grassroots Fundraising Goal!

November 8, 2023 Ken Wu

Top: Old-growth temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island; Middle: Aspen Parkland ecosystem in Saskatchewan; Bottom: Hardwood swamp forest along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

Hello friends, please help us reach our Year End fundraising goal of raising $100,000 (tax receipts provided, and donations of securities also accepted).

We have just landed a $1.1 billion BC-federal protected areas funding agreement, the BC Nature Agreement, after years of intense campaign work emphasizing the centrality of conservation financing to support First Nations protected areas initiatives! We continue to work to close the loopholes in BC old-growth and protected areas policies, including by ensuring ecosystem-based protection targets, protected areas standards and integrity, funding for Indigenous old-growth deferrals, and other key policies to save the most endangered and least protected ecosystems.

A billion dollars for nature in B.C. as long-awaited agreement is signed (The Narwhal)

November 7, 2023 Ken Wu

The tripartite nature agreement comes with new and old funding to protect old-growth forests, species at risk

Federal, provincial and First Nations leaders gathered against the backdrop of Burrard Inlet Friday to announce a long-awaited nature agreement that promises further protections for old-growth forests and at-risk species.

Billion Dollar Nature Agreement Announced will Supercharge Protected Areas Expansion in BC!

November 3, 2023 Ken Wu

Conservationists thanked the BC and federal governments for the $1.1 billion launch of the BC Nature Agreement. The federal government has provided $500 million and BC is providing $563 million from diverse funding sources - now purposed towards achieving BC’s 30% by 2030 nature protection, conservation, and restoration goals via First Nations conservation agreements.

The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) and Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) are greatly applauding the BC and federal governments and the First Nations Leadership Council for launching the BC Nature Agreement, with $1.1 billion in funding to start, to help achieve BC’s minimum protected areas target of protecting 30% by 2030 of its land area. The tripartite agreement, negotiated between the BC government, federal government, and the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), comes with a $563 contribution from the province and a $500 million federal contribution. The fund will continue to grow with major contributions from the philanthropic community and potentially from future government budgets over time.

Georgia Straight Op-Ed: Conservation Financing is a Game-Changer for BC's Old-Growth Forests

October 31, 2023 Ken Wu

The EEA’s executive director Ken Wu by an old-growth Sitka spruce west of Lake Cowichan in Ditidaht territory on Vancouver Island. Photo by TJ Watt.

Conservation financing is a game-changer for BC’s old-growth forests

by Ken Wu

Read a new Opinion Piece by the Endangered Ecosystem Alliance’s executive director Ken Wu in the Georgia Straight HERE

New $300M fund aims to protect old-growth forests, other natural spaces in B.C. from development (CBC News)

October 31, 2023 Ken Wu

Premier says fund represents modern stewardship between government, First Nations, conservationists, industry

B.C. has announced a new $300-million fund to protect threatened ecosystems in the province.

‘The money that’s needed’: B.C. announces $300-million Indigenous conservation fund to protect old-growth forests (The Narwhal)

October 31, 2023 Ken Wu

The new funding is welcomed by conservation groups that say the province has voiced support for old forest protections while continuing to allow clearcut logging in rare ecosystems and in the habitat of endangered species

B.C.'s $300M old-growth fund puts First Nations 'in the driver's seat' (Time Colonist)

October 31, 2023 Ken Wu

$300-million investment aims to save B.C.'s old-growth forests by offering First Nations sustainable economic alternatives to industrial logging.

Conservation financing is a game-changer for BC’s old-growth forests

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