B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar announced Wednesday (Jan. 29) an extension of the deferral of old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek watershed. The current deferral period announced in June 2023 would have run out on Feb. 1. 

Parmar said the extension applies until Sept. 30, 2026 and covers the same 1,200 hectares, which government had first deferred from logging in June 2021 following protests by anti-logging groups and discussions among various actors with the request for deferral having come from the elected leadership of the Pacheedaht First Nation. 

The land falls entirely within the territory of Pacheedaht First Nation and is part of a larger tree farm licence held by Teal Jones. 

Fairy Creek has been the site of numerous protests against old-growth logging, with more than 1,000 protesters arrested on the site in February 2022. Observers have described the protests as one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian history. 

Parmar said in an interview with Black Press Media that the deferral gives discussions between First Nation and government about the future of the land more time. "We have been working on this for some months, even prior to me being appointed (as forests minister)," he said.  "The Pacheedaht First Nation are continuing their good work on developing an integrated resource management fund that allows them to do the work necessary to understand how they want to manage their territories and Fairy Creek watershed is just a small part of that." 

Parmar also framed the deferral as part of a larger process of economic reconciliation on a government-to-government basis. "For me, it's about re-affirming to the Pacheedaht First Nation that we would be making these decisions together and what they have asked for is time to be able to do their integrated resource management plan," he added. 

He said in a statement that "(true), lasting and meaningful reconciliation" begins with partnering and working with First Nations. Together, we can build a strong, robust and sustainable forest sector for the next 100 years." 

B.C. Greens welcomed the deferral. 

Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and Islands, called temporary old-growth deferrals a "key tool" in protecting old-growth forests. He also hoped to "see more good news" in drawing attention to the cooperation and responsible government accord his party has signed with Parmar's. That agreement sees the B.C. Greens and their two MLAs work with the bare majority government of Premier David Eby on a variety of "shared initiatives" includng Fairy Creek. 

It states that government "will move forward to ensure permanent protection of the Fairy Creek Watershed" pending the "resolution of existing legal proceedings and community negotiations" and in partnership with Pacheedaht First Nation as well as Ditidaht First Nation. 

The future of Fairy Creek, in other words, also holds larger significance for the long-term governance. 

Parmar said it is too early to discuss various details, like the final scope of the area subject to permanent deferral and potential deferral tools. One potential option would be for the Crown to purchase the area and designate it as a permanent deferral area. "There would obviously have to be compensation," Parmar said in pointing to the current tenure of Teal Jones. "So there would have to be some further conversations about that and we are just not there yet today on that." 

When asked about a potential dollar figure, Parmar said he could not share a figure at this stage. "I would also say that the dollar figures change daily," he said, adding that pending tariffs from the United States inject additional uncertainty. 

Parmar also drew attention to reports of tree spiking in the watershed located northeast of Port Renfrew.

"Last week, I was notified that there are reports of tree spiking in the Fairy Creek area of southern Vancouver Island," he said. "Spiking a tree, or even attempting to, is a dangerous criminal activity that puts the health and safety of B.C.'s forestry workers at risk. These reports are incredibly alarming and I condemn this criminal behaviour."

The Langford-Highlands MLA said the forestry licensee and the local First Nation have received notification and RCMP has started an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 and reference file number: NA25-2275.

The ministry also announced that work on "unprecedented action" to protect old-growth forests continues. It said that "action has been taken" on all 14 recommendations that emerged from the 2020 Old Growth Strategic Review. 

The ministry also assured that its forest landscape planning (FLP), an essential part of its old-growth strategy, would continue to give Indigenous and provincial government leadership opportunities for collaboration. Fifteen FLP projects are currently underway.

Black Media has reached to Teal Jones for comment, but did not receive a reply by deadline.

-with files from Wolf Depner