The New Forest Act - A Legislative Proposal for BC Forestry Reform
- jengroundwater
- Dec 13
- 2 min read
SOFT-CV is all too aware of the desperate state of forestry in British Columbia, cause by decades of relentless overharvesting and a disregard for the environment. That's why we support the New Forest Act as proposed and promoted by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society (BFWSS). Click on the image below to go to the BFWSS website.
All the text below is from BFWSS. Click on the image above to go directly to their website, where there is a ton more information about forestry in BC and about the New Forest Act. Or read on here.
Industrial forestry has converted most of BC’s primary forests into clearcuts and plantations.
That’s driving biodiversity collapse, worsening floods, fires, landslides, and drought, while still shrinking jobs and costing taxpayers billions.
We propose a New Forest Act that puts ecosystem integrity first, returns decision‑making to communities and Indigenous Peoples, and rebuilds stable, diversified local economies.
This isn’t theory. If implemented, the New Forest Act would change how every public forest in BC is managed—protecting water, restoring damaged ecosystems, and keeping forestry jobs rooted in rural communities. It’s a practical plan for future generations, not just the next election cycle.
The New Forest Act contains:
Science-based rules to protect ecosystems, watersheds, and biodiversity (#1 priority)
A public-interest governance model for BC’s forests
A 3-part land use system (PRH Model) balancing protection, restoration, and working forests
Funding strategies to sustain rural economies
A roadmap for implementation
NEW FOREST ACT PROPOSAL (Oct 2025 PDF)
BACKGROUNDER (Oct 2025 PDF)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (Oct 2025 PDF)
POLICY BRIEF (PDF – 3 pages)
Click on the image above to read about the New Forest Act in the Watershed Sentinel.
The New Forest Act is a legislative proposal to fix what’s broken in BC forestry—from the ground up.
The New Forest Act is about three things: ecological integrity, community decision-making, and local economies.
It’s a clear, actionable plan to protect watersheds, restore degraded forests, and secure sustainable rural jobs—rooted in science and community priorities, not industry spin.
Created by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society (BFWSS), the Act offers a credible alternative to the centralized, industry-run model that has dominated public forests for decades.
This isn’t a PR campaign or a protest slogan. It’s a fully developed policy framework—already being presented to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), government staff, and local councils across the province.
Click on the images below to watch brief informational videos the from Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society.
"BC has been basing its timber supply on inflated, outdated, and unrealistic assumptions."
"BC's forestry industry isn’t in a downturn - it’s collapsing. Mills are shutting down across the province, not because of bad markets or tariffs, but because the forests are gone or too costly to reach."