B.C. halts old-growth logging to protect owl habitat in Fraser Canyon
Posted March 3, 2023 5:20 pm.
The B.C. government says it is extending the deferral of old-growth logging within an area in the Fraser Canyon in order to protect endangered spotted owls.
In a statement, the province says it’s extending the deferral on logging near the Spuzzum and Utzilus watersheds, that span over 32,600 hectares. The deferral was extended for two years until Feb 2025.
“Our forests are foundational to British Columbia,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests. “These deferrals allow us to protect spotted owl territory as we launch new measures to protect more old-growth forests.”
Related: B.C. endangered owl found injured near train tracks two months after release
According to the province, there are only three spotted owls currently known to be in B.C.’s wild. This includes two birds that were released in the summer of 2022 from a facility in Langley. The government says releasing the rare and endangered birds into the wild is a first for anywhere in the world.
The government says its long-term goal is to expand its spotted owl breeding program and release as many as 20 into the wild each year.
“Deferrals on commercial logging in spotted owl habitat improve protection and recovery efforts, and help enhance biodiversity in British Columbia,” the release reads.
