The Provincial Forest Advisory Committee’s (PFAC) report on forest management acknowledges long-standing problems in BC’s forestry system, but ultimately fails to address the core reasons meaningful reform has stalled for decades, says Wildsight. While the report includes some positive recommendations — including support for a publicly accessible, LiDAR-based forest inventory and new regional, area-based planning structures — it does not confront the political barriers that continue to undermine forest protection, ecosystem health and public confidence. “The biggest obstacle is not a lack of data — it’s a lack of political will and leadership,” said Eddie Petryshen. “Decisions about old-growth protection are being delayed because the system still prioritizes perceived timber supply impacts over ecological health and the public interest.” …“Unless the PFAC report is followed up by broad-scale legislative change, it risks becoming yet another document that gives the illusion of progress, yet fails to deliver any real solutions.”