By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 01/08/2024 The Provincial government has fallen short in protecting B.C.’s old-growth forests says a West Kootenay environmental group and is calling for fulfillment of the recommendations of two auditor generals and the creation of two new parks. In a New Future for Old Forests — a series of recommendations to protect old-growth forests released in 2020 — the Provincial government overlooked the fact old-growth forests are seriously depleted and that the rich coastal and interior rainforests that grow big trees are almost gone, said Amber Peters, biologist and campaigner with the Valhalla Wilderness Society based in New Denver. However, a Provincial government-authored progress report released in late May stated that work was underway in response to 14 recommendations made by an independent panel…