Whereas intact old-growth forests provide province-wide public benefits including climate regulation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, watershed stability, fresh water, clean air and reduced hazard risk e.g. floods, fires, landslides, while improving ecological resilience, community public safety, and economic outcomes associated with British Columbias growing tourism industry; And whereas local governments throughout British Columbia bear direct responsibility and expense for responding to the downstream impacts of deforestation, giving all municipalities and regional districts a legitimate and shared interest in the protection of remaining intact old-growth forests regardless of location; And whereas the Inland Temperate Rainforest is a red-listed ecosystem underrepresented in existing protected area networks: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to act on provincial conservation commitments, including the protection of 30 of lands by 2030 and Old Growth Strategic Review recommendations, and work with First Nations and local governments to establish long-term protection measures for intact ancient and old-growth ecosystems of provincial significance, including increased conservation efforts for the Rainbow-Jordan wilderness and the Inland Temperate Rainforest, including a land management plan.
