B.C. Finalizes a $1 Billion Accord for the Preservation of Natural Resources

4 November 2023 Noah Perreault

This is being hailed as a momentous accord for British Columbia.

Valued at $1 billion, this agreement aims to safeguard 30 percent of British Columbia’s lands and waters by 2030, as stated by Steve Guilbeault, the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada.

He declared, “This could arguably be the most pivotal conservation plan in the annals of Canada,” during a Friday announcement.

Ottawa is providing $500 million, including $50 million designated for the protection of 4,000 square kilometers of old-growth forest and an additional $104 million for habitat restoration of endangered species.

The provincial government’s contribution surpasses $560 million.

Premier David Eby expressed that this agreement will empower the provincial government to expedite our efforts in protecting old-growth forests.

“This is a paradigm shift in our province about protecting ecosystems, about recognizing the integrated nature of what we want to protect on the land, and how we use the land to make sure it’s there for generations to come,” he said Friday.

TJ Watt, co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance, suggested that this accord has the potential to result in the long-term suspension of logging activities in areas such as Fairy Creek and the Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island.

“This level of funding, again, can help support First Nations that are in the driver’s seat in deciding what old-growth forests get protected in their territory, move some of those temporary deferrals to long time protection measures,” Watt said.

The agreement arrives at a pivotal juncture, as emphasized by Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations.

“We’ve experienced this past year, unprecedented drought, unprecedented wildfire season in Canada’s history, and the province’s history. And certainly part of that is conserving biodiverse areas in our respective territories, and in British Columbia,” Teegee said.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillips of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs conveyed that First Nations will be responsible for supervising the conservation initiatives.

“We have a sacred duty to do our utmost duty to protect the land, to nurture the land,” he said. “And this agreement serves that purpose. What I like about the agreement is tripartite.”

In order to achieve its goal, an additional 100,000 square kilometers of land must be incorporated into the existing 20 percent of the province that is already protected.

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