This morning I stood on top of Little Mountain where I had a good view of the entire area. I saw helicopters flying logs along Craig Creek which flows into Englishman River just upstream from Top Bridge. This helicopter is working for Island TImberlands and because there was no wind today they flew from first light until dark this evening when I could still hear them from my home.
Hiking up to the Island in the middle of Englishman River just above the upper falls in the Provincial Park a group of us were devastated by the cutting of the trees. Massive Douglas Fir and Cedar had been reduced to standing poles waiting to be felled and flown away by helicopter. The tops of these trees were laying on the forest floor, some of this discarded waste being over 2 feet across. Many trees had been felled to rot because of WCB regulations, but most of these trees had been important habitat trees. The Cedar tree I photographed with a bear living inside its den was marketed and all the trees around it had been prepared for felling.
A friend climbed up the steep banks of the river, cliffs really that form a canyon, to discover a small clear-cut that had been felled recently along with a number of trees that had been topped. On our hike out using the Hammerfest Mountain BIking trails we stopped to speak with the Park ranger inside his compound. He explained that fallers had been there most of the day and that Island TImberlands is logging right to the boundary of the park beside the maintenance station.
Island TImberlands is systematically targetting pockets of old growth trees all along the Englishman River watershed.
Something that YOU can do immediately is contact:
Private Managed Forest Land Council
Executive Director:
Stuart Macpherson
Cell: 250-415-1739
Telephone: 250-386-5737
Email: execdirec@pmflc.ca
If convinced, he could issue a 'stop work order' until the area is properly surveyed.
Then there's the person who should be working hard on behalf of BC citizens to protect our watersheds and environment but seems to say very little:
Honourable Barry Penner
Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities
E-mail: env.minister@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250 387-1187
PO Box 9047
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC
V8W 9E2
Writing letters to the editors of all newspapers and phoning talk shows, radio, TV, and letting them know you are interested in this issue DOES HELP!
Ask them if they are following this watershed issue that is so important for our drinking water across the province.
I wish I could report more enjoyable and heartwarming news but this is the reality of Englishman River today.
in solidarity,
Richard
p.s. It never hurts to CC messages to you local MLA or contact them directly. AFTER ALL BC IS HAVING AN ELECTION MAY 12, 2009 THIS SHOULD BE AN ELECTION ISSUE, LET'S MAKE IT ONE!!!
MLA: Hon. Ron Cantelon Nanaimo-Parksville
Minister of Agriculture and Lands
E-mail: ron.cantelon.mla@leg.bc.ca
Nanaimo Constituency:
501 - 5800 Turner Rd.
Nanaimo, BC
V9T 6J4
Phone: 250 729-7041
Toll Free: 1 800 663-7867
Parksville Constituency:
120B Middleton Avenue Parksville, BC
V9P 1C9
Phone: 250 951-6018
Toll Free: 1 800 663-7867
Parliment Office:
Room 028
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Phone: 250 387-1023
MLA: Scott Fraser
Alberni-Qualicum
E-mail: scott.fraser.mla@leg.bc.ca
Port Alberni Constituency:
101 - 4152 Redford St
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 3R5
Phone: 250 720-4515
Toll free: 1 866 870-4190
Qualicum Beach Constituency:
104 - 193 Second Ave W. Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K 2N5
Phone: 250 752-8629
Toll Free: 1 866 870-4190
Office:
Room 201
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Phone: 250 387-3655
