New conservancy for old growth forest near Revelstoke announced

Premier David Eby announced Wednesday protections for one of B.C.’s old growth forests.

The project is set to help preserve the Incomappleux Valley, located near Revelstoke.

The B.C. government says the area spans over 58,000 hectares in size and is full of key old growth areas. In comparison, the size is about the the amount of 150 Stanley Parks.

In addition to the vast space, the province says another 17,000 hectares in the southern part of the valley are also set to be protected from forestry activity.

“Our actions to preserve the Incomappleux Valley and its rare ecosystem will make this one of the most significant protected areas established in the province in a decade. Stewardship of B.C.’s waters, lands and resources will mean partnering with First Nations and working with industry, communities and more to help us reach our targets for protecting B.C.’s biodiversity,” Eby said.

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“Part of B.C.’s rare inland temperate rainforest where some old-growth cedar and hemlock trees are estimated to be four metres in diameter and more than 1,000 years old. The forest supports more than 250 lichen species, including some that are new to science, and provides habitat for grizzly and black bears, as well as a variety of endangered fungal and plant species,” a news release from the province explained.

Eby says the government has committed to protecting 30 per cent of the province’s land base by 2023.

“For too long, governments didn’t make protecting this beautiful place for the priority it should have been. In fact, they believe we had to choose between growing the economy and protecting unique wild spaces like this for generations to come. That’s a false choice,” he said.

“British Columbians know we can, and must, do both — and so does our government. Protecting these places for our kids and for their kids is one of the most important things we can do to create a healthier future,” Eby explained.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman says this new preservation is the biggest in years.

“The rich and unique biodiversity of the Incomappleux Valley makes this one of the most-significant protected areas established in the province in a decade,”

“By expanding parks and protected areas, we are strengthening protection and enhancement of biodiversity in British Columbia and contributing to our goal of protecting 30 per cent of the province by 2030,” he added.

This comes as protestors blocked major highways and bridges in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island last year, calling for an end to old growth logging. More recently, more than 160 organizations also signed a declaration demanding the province to take faster action to protect the province’s remaining old-growth forests. 

With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Mike Lloyd