By Dave Branco

BC Government Expands West Twin Provincial Park to Protect Rare Old-Growth Rainforest

Jan 13, 2026 | 8:54 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Local conservationists are praising the BC government’s decision to add nearly 1,060 hectares of primary forest habitat to West Twin Provincial Park, located approximately two hours east of Prince George.

The expansion protects part of the globally important Inland Temperate Rainforest, including areas that technical experts identified as rare old-growth in 2021.

“It’s a modest amount of new protection for this endangered ecosystem, and we’re pleased that it’s happening,” said Jenn Matthews, a volunteer with Conservation North.

The Inland Temperate Rainforest is considered a biodiversity hotspot by scientists and faces significant threats from industrial logging. Major forest companies, including Carrier Lumber, Canfor, and West Fraser, continue to harvest timber from the rainforest for its economically valuable wood.

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Experts warn that the ecosystem is at risk of irreparable harm if current logging rates persist.

The old-growth rainforests provide critical habitat for large wildlife species, including mountain caribou and grizzly bears, which depend on these forests for food and shelter.

Michelle Connolly, director of Conservation North, welcomed the government’s action. “We’re glad that the BC government is protecting wildlife habitat in our region; this is the kind of leadership that the public wants to see more of,” she said.

The park expansion represents a step toward protecting one of the world’s rarest forest ecosystems, though conservation groups continue to advocate for broader protections across the region.