Today, Premier John Horgan announced that a request by First Nations chiefs to defer logging at Fairy Creek has been approved.
Horgan said that cabinet has approved the request today, which includes Fairy Creek as well as 2,000 hectares in the central Walbran areas on Vancouver Island.
“Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and protecting the environment are top priorities for our government. We believe they must go hand in hand,” said Premier John Horgan.
“That’s why we’re pleased to approve the request from three First Nations to defer old-growth logging on their territory — including in the Fairy Creek watershed. The first step in protecting old growth must be respecting Indigenous peoples’ land-management rights in their territories.”
The Huu—ay—aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht nations signed a declaration on Saturday and gave the province notice of their intention to defer old-growth logging while the First Nations title holders build resource-stewardship plans for their lands.
The Fairy Creek watershed is 1,199 hectares in size and includes about 884 hectares of old forest. The central Walbran area, which is located west of Lake Cowichan, is 1,489 hectares and includes about 1,150 hectares is old forest.
A map showing the areas the deferral applies to is below.
The province has also announced intentions to redistribute forest tenures to Indigenous Nations, forest communities and small operators, and to complete a review of an old growth strategy in the next two years.
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