In the following article, Island Timberlands seems to be engaged in some sort of misleading PR spin, claiming that they are not logging the ungulate winter range in the core of McLaughlin Ridge, which they most clearly are (see our photos). The core area was mapped to become a Wildlife Habitat Area, which would protect the habitat of the endangered Queen Charlotte Goshawk and at the same time serve to protect the ancient Douglas-fir forest where the ungulates (deer) spend the winter - this is where Island Timberlands has been logging. In addition, Island Timberlands has also logged in areas mapped as UWR in recent years. Stating anything else is either simply false or misleading sophistry designed to throw doubt and confusion on what the company is doing, to buy time for them to log as much endangered ancient forest as they can. However, it should be noted that if Island Timberlands now has a new policy to not log anymore of the mapped UWR's, we greatly welcome that and look forward to discussing how to move forward on this...stay tuned.
B.C. First Nation is set to declare a vast chunk of the Chilcotin as a tribal park
"A B.C. First Nation is set to declare a vast chunk of the Chilcotin as a tribal park, including the site of the controversial proposed New Prosperity mine at Fish Lake. A formal ceremony unveiling Dasiqox Tribal Park is set for Oct. 4, less than four months after a landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling found that the Tsilhqot’in people have title to 1,750 square kilometres of land west of Williams Lake."
Native Tree and Shrub Planting in Portage Park (View Royal) on Sept.14
Join the Greater Victoria Green Team, Ecological Pathfinder volunteers of Portage Park, and Ancient Forest Alliance for a fun day of planting trees and shrubs in the beautiful Portage Park (View Royal). Come learn about the ecology of Vancouver Island’s amazing forests, native plants, and help restore the native ecosystem. Thanks to the support of the Evergreen Foundation and Canon. Date: Sunday, September 14 Time: 9:45am to 2pm Join the event and RSVP here: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria-Green-Team/events/201693132/ For more info contact Amanda at: amanda@greenteamscanada.ca
Great News! BC Government Backs Down from Tree Farm Licence Expansion Plans for Now – THANK YOU for Speaking Up!
Recently, just before the Labour Day weekend, the BC government quickly mentioned that they have no immediate plans to introduce any legislation to expand Tree Farm Licences across British Columbia in 2014 or in the spring. This proposal has been a recurring scheme by the BC Liberal government - proposed before the 2013 BC election and then again this year until now - to give exclusive logging rights to major logging companies on vast areas of BC's public forest lands. Each time, a massive public uproar has played an important role in preventing this "forest giveaway scheme" from being implemented! THANK YOU to the many thousands of our supporters who formed the numeric bulk of the opposition speaking up against this proposal (see www.BCForestMovement.com), to the many First Nations who voiced their concerns and especially to the Tsilhqot’in First Nation who recently won the land title case in the Supreme Court, which was a fundamental reason for the BC government backing down. We must stay vigilant in case the relentless BC Liberal government tries again to attempt such a plan in the future. See the article in Clearwater Times: https://www.clearwatertimes.com/breaking_news/273093851.html
SRD buys valuable piece of real estate
Congratulations to the Cortes Island forest activists who finally got the Whaletown Commons protected, with major help from the Strathcona Regional District. The Whaletown Commons was a forest long under contention, owned by Island Timberlands, that is highly valued by the community and includes veteran old-growth Douglas-firs and cedars scattered throughout, riparian ecosystems, and areas used for children's environmental education.
Mossy maple grove
Here's an article on the Mossy Maple Grove near Lake Cowichan in British Columbia Magazine, featuring a photo from the AFA’s TJ Watt!
New PHOTO GALLERIES of Avatar Grove Boardwalk progress in 2014
The Ancient Forest Alliance and teams of dedicated volunteers have made some signigicant progress on the construction of the boardwalk at Avatar Grove this summer.
Logging McLaughlin Ridge: Watershed advocates say logging threatens city’s water source
Great news! The Port Alberni municipal council has unanimously passed a resolution supporting the statement for Island Timberlands to cease and desist from logging McLaughlin Ridge, an ancient forest near Port Alberni in the city's drinking watershed, and for the BC government to ensure its protection. Thanks to our allies at the Port Alberni Watershed-Forest Alliance for getting the resolution passed!
Groups push to halt old-growth harvesting
Here's an article in the Alberni Valley Times about the Port Aberni city council unanimously passing a resolution for Island Timberlands to stop logging McLaughlin Ridge and the BC government to protect it. Again thanks to our friends at the Port Alberni Watershed-Forest Alliance for their great work!
Groups fear fragile B.C. area logged
In the following article, Island Timberlands seems to be engaged in some sort of misleading PR spin, claiming that they are not logging the ungulate winter range in the core of McLaughlin Ridge, which they most clearly are (see our photos). The core area was mapped to become a Wildlife Habitat Area, which would protect the habitat of the endangered Queen Charlotte Goshawk and at the same time serve to protect the ancient Douglas-fir forest where the ungulates (deer) spend the winter - this is where Island Timberlands has been logging. In addition, Island Timberlands has also logged in areas mapped as UWR in recent years. Stating anything else is either simply false or misleading sophistry designed to throw doubt and confusion on what the company is doing, to buy time for them to log as much endangered ancient forest as they can. However, it should be noted that if Island Timberlands now has a new policy to not log anymore of the mapped UWR's, we greatly welcome that and look forward to discussing how to move forward on this...stay tuned.
Environmental and labour organizations call on Island Timberlands to stop logging old-growth forest
The Port Alberni Council of Canadians, Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada (PPWC) union and various environmental organizations have signed a joint statement calling on Island Timberlands to halt logging the endangered old-growth forests of McLaughlin Ridge near Port Alberni, BC. They asked the BC Liberal government show leadership and ensure the forest’s protection. “The company and the BC government really need to heed the call of so many diverse organizations, otherwise the controversy will only continue to grow,” said Jane Morden from the Port Alberni Watershed-Forest Alliance, which is spearheading the campaign to protect old-growth forests around the region, including McLaughlin Ridge.