Vancouver, BC – The Wilderness Committee has reacted to news that on April 1 a
permit was issued by the BC government to the First Nation owned
logging company Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd to build a logging road
into a pristine valley in Clayoquot Sound.
"When we got the news that the logging road permit had been
issued we knew we were in a tough position," explained Wilderness
Committee National Campaign Director Joe Foy.
Since 1999 the Wilderness Committee has been a signatory
to an agreement known as the Clayoquot Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU), which states that Iisaak will not log in Clayoquot's pristine
valleys. “The signing of the MOU resulted in a kind of peace in the
woods. Now, with the issuance of this road building permit to Iisaak by
the BC government, the MOU agreement has been broken and the future of
the pristine valleys of Clayoquot Sound is in serious jeopardy," said
Foy.
The logging road permit is listed as R-18316 for Reservoir Rd/Matilda Mainline on the southeast portion of Flores Island.
Iisaak Forest Resources is owned by five First Nations: the Ahousat, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht and Ucluelet.
On June 16, 1999, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed
between Iisaak Forest Resources Limited and Greenpeace, Natural
Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club of BC and the Wilderness
Committee.
"We strongly oppose this proposed logging in Clayoquot
Sound's pristine ancient forest," said Foy. “It’s our understanding
that Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd. is driven by a desire to pay off debt
that they have built up over the years. However, logging in pristine
watersheds is going to put us all back into a position of conflict -
which is a place no one wants to be," said Foy.
Currently the Wilderness Committee is considering its
options, including opting out of the Clayoquot MOU. "The BC government
needs to step in now with community development dollars for the First
Nations of Clayoquot Sound so we all can get a little space to find
solutions that result in protection for the pristine valleys and a
solid economic future for the communities. Otherwise our organization
is going to be very soon in open opposition to this logging company
Iisaak," said Foy.
The Wilderness Committee is Canada's largest membership-based,
citizen-funded wilderness preservation organization. We work for the
preservation of Canadian and international wilderness through research
and grassroots education. The Wilderness Committee works on the ground
to achieve ecologically sustainable communities.
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