Environmentalists struggling to save diminishing ancient forests on Canada’s West Coast are hopeful after B.C. announced a new old-growth advisory panel staffed by respected foresters and scientists. “The technical panel is a very welcome positive step forward,” said Andrea Inness of the Ancient Forest Alliance. “It really gives me a glimmer of hope the province is going to listen to science around the state of old-growth forests.” …The panel includes ecologists Rachel Holt and Karen Price, forest policy expert and environmental economist Lisa Matthaus, and foresters Garry Merkel and Dave Daust. …The choice of panellists suggests the province is finally acknowledging the data and science behind the independent Last Stand report written by Holt, Price and Daust that indicates the dire state of at-risk forest ecosystems in B.C., Inness said. …Conroy would not clarify when or if the panel’s information around the priority deferral areas would become public, saying, eventually some information would be released.