BC Greens publish forestry plan to end raw-log exports and protect old-growth forests
The BC Green Party published a forestry plan on October 4 that would end raw-log exports, permanently protect old-growth forests, and shift 30 to 50 per cent of available fibre to value-added manufacturing.
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The BC Green Party published a forestry plan on October 4 that would end raw-log exports, permanently protect old-growth forests, and direct 30 to 50 per cent of available wood fibre to manufacturing inside the province. Emily Lowan, the party's leader and candidate for Saanich North and the Islands, made the announcement.
The party says BC earned $397 million in forest revenue in the 2025/26 fiscal year. That figure comes from the party's October 4 press release and has not been independently verified in this article.
Key points in the forestry plan
The BC Green Party says in its October 4 announcement that it would reject the NDP's Working Forest Model and replace it with regional planning to set harvest levels. It would end raw-log exports and close what it describes as loopholes that allow minimally processed wood to leave the province.
The party says it would permanently protect old-growth and large second-growth forests and fully implement all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review with First Nations. It would also ban glyphosate and other chemical herbicides.
Jobs and communities
The party says it would expand community and First Nations forestry to 20 per cent of the Annual Allowable Cut, share greater forest revenues directly with First Nations and municipalities, and support workers through dedicated retraining and new employment opportunities during any transition. The party says directing more fibre to value-added manufacturing would create more stable, long-term jobs from each cubic metre of wood harvested, rather than exporting the raw material and the employment that goes with it. These outcomes are the party's own projections and have not been independently assessed.
What voters can do
British Columbians vote on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. To see the BC Greens' full platform, visit the BC Green Party page.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC Greens announce about forestry on October 4?
The BC Green Party published a forestry plan on October 4, 2026, announced by leader Emily Lowan. The plan covers several areas: ending raw-log exports, permanently protecting old-growth forests, implementing all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review, banning glyphosate and chemical herbicides, expanding community and First Nations forestry, and directing 30 to 50 per cent of available wood fibre to value-added manufacturing inside the province. These are the party's own policy commitments.
What would the BC Greens do about raw-log exports?
The BC Green Party says in its October 4 announcement that it would end raw-log exports and close loopholes that allow minimally processed wood to leave the province. The party says this would keep more forestry work in BC and create jobs through value-added manufacturing. The party has not published a timeline for phasing out exports or a transition plan for workers currently employed in log export operations.
What is the BC Greens' position on old-growth forests?
The BC Green Party says in its October 4 announcement that it would permanently protect old-growth and large second-growth forests from logging. The party also says it would fully implement all 14 recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review in cooperation with First Nations. The review was a government-commissioned assessment of how to manage old-growth forests, and the party's October 4 announcement does not state which recommendations remain unimplemented.
How much forest revenue does BC earn, according to the BC Greens?
The BC Green Party cited provincial forest revenue of $397 million for the 2025/26 fiscal year in its October 4 announcement. This is the figure the party used to frame the scale of the forestry sector and the potential for growth through value-added manufacturing. The figure comes from the party's own press release and has not been independently verified in this article.
What would the BC Greens do about herbicide use in forestry?
The BC Green Party says in its October 4 announcement that it would ban glyphosate and other chemical herbicides used in forestry operations in BC. The party frames this as part of a broader plan to move toward ecologically sustainable harvesting. No transition timeline or alternative pest management plan was specified in the announcement.
How would the forestry plan affect First Nations?
The BC Green Party says in its October 4 announcement that it would expand community and First Nations forestry, with a target of 20 per cent of the Annual Allowable Cut going to community and First Nations operators. The party also says it would share greater forest-resource revenues with First Nations and municipalities, and that it would implement all 14 Old Growth Strategic Review recommendations in partnership with First Nations. These commitments come from the party's own announcement.
Who is Emily Lowan?
Emily Lowan is the leader of the BC Green Party and the party's candidate for Saanich North and the Islands in the October 24, 2026, provincial election. She announced the forestry plan on October 4. You can find her candidate profile at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan).
When is voting day in the BC provincial election?
Voting day in the British Columbia provincial election is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. You can check your voting place and registration status through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca.
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