Garry Merkel was the co-chair (along with Al Gorley) of the cabinet-appointed Old Growth Review Panel. This panel conducted an extensive outreach process that received input from thousands of people across British Columbia and helped inform their final report, “A NEW FUTURE FOR OLD FORESTS, A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages its Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems” (OGSR). This review made 14 recommendations and summarized a prerequisite paradigm shift required to change the stewardship direction in British Columbia from a managing for “timber subject to constraints” to “holistic ecosystem health/integrity” approach. Garry has been asked to return and is now acting as an independent mentor, coach, facilitator and advisor to support the government in its leadership role, the forest sector and ultimately the land sector of the province through this transition.
