100 signatures reached
To: Island Timberlands and the BC Provincial Government
Future Forests
Whereas we believe that:
- Logging is important to the economy of Port Alberni
- Sustainable forest management is crucial to ensuring the longevity of the forest industry and forest jobs
- Old growth is of particular value due to the ecological significance and biodiversity that it supports
- Tourism from old growth is a large part of our provincial and regional economy
We call on Island Timberlands to:
• Immediately cease logging the sensitive intact old growth areas of McLaughlin Ridge, Cameron Valley Firebreak, and Mount Horne.
• Re-instate CSA, or even FSC, certification across all Island Timberlands lands.
• Engage in ongoing, meaningful consultation with stakeholder groups through formal dialogue and regular, monthly meetings.
Why is this important?
Forests are central to our lives as humans and are crucial to our existence. Little intact, original old growth remains in British Columbia and yet these are ecosystems of significance and provide many benefits to us including watershed protection, air quality control, soil stability, and temperature moderation. In addition they provide habitat for elk and deer and, these lands were initially slotted for protection by BC government scientists in the 1990s. 300+ year old trees will not grow back in our lifetimes. These few remaining old growth areas are invaluable and should be saved for our community's benefit.