Vancouver Island First Nation approves 96 per cent of proposed old-growth deferrals on its land
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations on western Vancouver Island have approved deferrals to old-growth logging in most of the area the province proposed for deferrals last month.
On Nov. 1, B.C. proposed a two-year deferral on old-growth logging across roughly 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in the province.
The province then asked affected First Nations to respond to the proposed deferrals within 30 days.
Now, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations says it has approved the two-year deferral for 96 per cent of the forest that the province proposed to defer on its land.
The nation says the remaining four per cent involves logging operations that are already underway.
"These deferrals would have an impact on small portions of many different harvest areas in a variety of ways, including making entire harvest areas uneconomic or inaccessible or making the deferred portion subject to forest health concerns such as windthrow," said the Huu-ay-aht First Nations in a release Wednesday.
The nation adds that the harvest areas impact local workers as well as workers from Bamfield and the Alberni Region.
The nation says it has 153,773 hectares of productive forest on its land, of which 33 per cent – or 51,240 hectares – is considered "old forest," which is defined as trees that are at least 250 years old.
The province had proposed deferring 29 per cent of the old forest on Huu-ay-aht First Nations land, or 14,754 hectares.
The nation says that most of that deferral has been approved, with just 645 hectares, or four per cent, not approved for deferral.
"As a Modern Treaty Nation, Huu-ay-aht will decide how best to manage our lands and resources guided by our three Sacred Principles of ʔiisaak (utmost respect), ʔuuʔałuk (taking care of), and hišuk ma c̕awak (everything is one)," said Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin, (Head Hereditary Chief Derek Peters).
"We expect broad recognition and respect for our old growth two-year deferral decisions and our long-term forest and resource stewardship decisions," he said.
The nation notes that most of the area that the province proposed logging deferrals in are already protected by other existing conservation measures or had no immediate plans for harvesting.
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations adds that its decision Wednesday is only preliminary. A final decision on the deferrals is expected in mid-January. The nation is also working on a two-year integrate resource management plan that's expected to be completed in 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.