Saving the Nanoose Forest Refuge
by Arrowsmith Parks and Land-Use Council
For months now, citizens, community organizations,
and local governments have been moving from crisis to crisis
over the fate of the mature Coastal Douglas fir forest at
Crown land District Lot 33 -- which has become known as the
Nanoose Forest Refuge.
Sad to say, we now know exactly what to expect.
The government announced in a recent press release that it would
conserve only 1600 hectares of Crown land in its ineffective action to
prevent the demise of the Coastal Douglas fir forest
ecosystem. The Nanoose Forest Refuge is not included in the
protected area. And the total amount of the protected area
is insufficient to save the CDF.
As matters presently stand, the government will allow
logging at DL 33. To the best of our knowledge, logging
will commence as soon as the forest fire ban is lifted -- after
the next significant rainfall.
The Campbell government's own
Forest Practices Board says the 1600 hectares of protected Crown
land CDF recently announced is not sufficient to move the CDF out of
its present status as "at high risk for extinction"
(see
page 6 of the report). The FPB also says if the
government saved all of the few remaining CDF Crown land pieces, the
danger of extinction would move from "high" to
"moderate". But instead the government is allowing
cutting to proceed in a matter of days!
To see the CDF forest and extensive wetland at the Nanoose
Forest, see the YouTube video at:
There is huge community support for saving the CDF forest
ecosystem, starting with a unanimous resolution at the Regional
District of Nanaimo, followed by a unanimous resolution at the
Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities convention, and
including over 2000 individual emails about the CDF, plus letters from
Nature BC, local community groups, and experienced registered
professional biologists, ecologists and other research
scientists such as the attached
example.
These scientists recognize that this
forest is surrounded by clearcuts on three sides and provides
rare, critical remaining habitat for a rich diversity of species who
find refuge there. Indeed, refugia are often 'over-populated'
with the species that thrive in a CDF forest, so logging a
refugia is even more destructive than normal. This
particular refuge is blessed with an extensive wetland system so has
the vigor to sustain high populations of endangered species if left
untouched. It is home to the full gamut of species, from bear,
elk and deer to small mammals, birds, owls, raptors, fish, amphibians,
and insects -- including many red- and blue-listed
endangered species.
A huge onslaught of email from individuals like you can still
change the government's mind.
Here's a block of addresses to paste into your
TO
box:
pat.bell.MLA@leg.bc.ca
;
barry.penner.MLA@leg.bc.ca ;
steve.thomson.MLA@leg.bc.ca ;
george.abbott.MLA@leg.bc.ca ;
premier@gov.bc.ca
Here's a block of email addresses for your
CC
box:
Ron.Cantelon.MLA@gov.bc.ca ;
Scott.Fraser.MLA@leg.bc.ca ;
bhavis@telus.net
;
corpsrv@rdn.bc.ca
;
Calvin.Ross@gov.bc.ca ;
FPBoard@gov.bc.ca
Here's some things you could say (in addition to some of
the above):
1) The provincial government must respond to the
reliable scientists from the government-appointed Forest Practices
Board and must act effectively to protect the CDF forest ecosystem
from extinction. To delay effective action and to allow more
cutting will guarantee the death of the most biologically diverse
ecosystem in Canada.
2) Minister of Forests Pat Bell, on CBC radio
"On the Island", lied to citizens. He denied that
the following Forest Practices Board statement exists
(see attached transcript). Here's
the FPB statement, a direct quote from the FPB report of June,
2010:
“In the
Board’s opinion, harvesting mature or old forest in the CDF, such as
that found in good condition on DL 33, is not consistent with a vision
of overall ecosystem integrity.” 
