Victoria is calling it a Zero Net Deforestation Act, but the opposition is saying it’s an excuse for doing nothing as the forestry crisis deepens around the province.

The legislation introduced into the Legislature this week will encourage planting sufficient trees to offset forestland that has been permanently cleared of forests for other uses, says Forests Minister Pat Bell.

“British Columbia is committed to achieving zero net deforestation by 2015 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bell. “Forests absorb and store carbon, which make them important allies in the fight against climate change.”

The new act requires the Minister of Forests and Range to give regular reports on progress towards zero net deforestation. The Zero Net Deforestation Act defines deforestation as the permanent loss of trees from an area. Industrial forestry is not covered by the act because there are requirements for replanting.

But Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says the new legislation “smacks of hypocrisy” and is nothing more than an empty public relations gesture.

“Silviculture contractors have estimated that there will be 170 million fewer seedlings planted in this province in comparison to peak years,” says Macdonald. “This is happening at a time when the forests are still being ravaged by the mountain pine beetle and other pests and when we are expecting more and bigger fire seasons.”

Macdonald says it’s looking more and more like the provincial Liberals are regarding forestry as a sunset industry. ““It’s the height of hypocrisy for the B.C. Liberals to claim to be the champion of reforestation in the face of their own appalling record.”

He also pointed to the $198 million cut in the Forest and Range Ministry’s budget this year and said Forests Minister Bell appears to be trying to do his best “but isn’t being given much to work with.”

Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett couldn’t be reached for comment, but John Yap, Minister of State for Climate Action, said the new act will be good for the environment.

“British Columbia’s forests are a tremendous resource when it comes to fighting climate change. Having a Zero Net Deforestation Act will mean our future forests will continue to help us meet our target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.”

The provincial government plans to partner with a variety of groups and organizations to pursue its new policy.

“The Province of British Columbia is to be commended for its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing a zero net deforestation policy,” says Michael Rosen, president of Tree Canada. “We are ready to assist the provincial government in achieving its goals by promoting the afforestation of suitable non-forest land.”

However, Macdonald says the Forest Ministry has largely abandoned its mandate to manage, conserve and protect the province’s vast forest lands by separating the reforestation function from the ministry and leaving it up to silviculture contractors to plant more trees with less funding.

“There are at least 13 million hectares of mountain pine beetle-impacted lands that have not been sufficiently restocked,” said Macdonald. “After sitting on their hands for nine years, the B.C. Liberals can’t really expect British Columbians to fall for this empty public relations exercise, especially since we will be waiting until 2015 for any results.”