Victoria, October 5, 2012 – BC Liberal government appears to have nixed their own scientists’ letter. Recently it was revealed through a Freedom Of Information request from Opposition MLA Scott Fraser that someone in the BC Liberal government hierarchy appears to have nixed their own scientists’ letter of objections to Island Timberlands.
Island Timberlands is embroiled in controversy over its plans to log the spectacular ancient forests of McLaughlin Ridge near Port Alberni, as well as contentious forests all over the southern coast.
McLaughlin Ridge was formerly protected as an Ungulate Winter Range and Wildlife Habitat Area until 2004 when the BC Liberal government allowed the company to remove almost 90,000 hectares of their private forest lands from their Tree Farm Licenses, thus removing most of the environmental laws from the lands.
It was also revealed that government scientists had repeatedly objected to the company’s plans to log this spectacular ancient Douglas fir forest, home to the endangered Queen Charlotte goshawk and the finest deer winter range on southern Vancouver Island, as scientifically indefensible. In addition, the licensee whose lands were removed from the Tree Farm License was supposed to come up with a plan to ensure the continued protection of these extremely rare deer winter habitats under an agreement with the BC government.
Despite this, the company has ignored the original agreement and is moving ahead with plans to continue logging the McLaughlin Ridge in 2013.
See the news article: MLA claims science not being followed
http://www2.canada.com/albernivalleytimes/news/story.html?id=91ad752a-d477-45eb-b2bb-02383b969b5d
See a Youtube clip of McLaughlin Ridge at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZiO1wAKwE&feature=player_embedded
Please WRITE a QUICK EMAIL to Protect McLaughlin Ridge and Island Timberland’s Endangered Forests!
PLEASE take 5 minutes and write a quick email to the BC Liberal government (Forests Minister Steve Thomson steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca and Environment Minister Terry Lake terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca) asking them to:
– Follow through with their own biologists’ advice and the BC government’s original commitment to ensure that a follow-up agreement be created to protect the McLaughlin Ridge, deer winter range, and species at risk habitat on Island Timberlands’ former Tree Farm License lands on Vancouver Island.
– Establish a $40 million/year BC Park Acquisition Fund to purchase private land for protection, including on Cortes Island, at Stillwater Bluffs, the Day Road Forest, Cathedral Grove Canyon, the Cameron Valley Firebreak, Pearl Lake, Eagle Ridge, and other areas.
***Be sure to include your home mailing address so they know you are a real person.
Also please sign our online petition at http://www.bcparkfund.com/