Supreme Court extends injunction barring logging of forest inhabited by endangered spotted owl
Copyright 2001 Canada NewsWire
June 26, 2001
VANCOUVER, June 26 /CNW/ - A Fraser Valley company is barred from logging a forest inhabited by spotted owls for another eight days, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there is enough evidence to support arguments that irreparable harm may befall the endangered species if logging proceeds.
The ruling by Mr. Justice Bud Cullen follows arguments by Sierra Legal Defence Fund lawyers acting on behalf of Vancouver-based Western Canada Wilderness Committee, lawyers for Cattermole Timber and the provincial government. Arguments will resume in court next Wednesday.
The reprieve was immediately hailed by conservationists who say ongoing logging could lead to the loss of one of only 22 known breeding pairs of spotted owls in B.C.
"If we lose and that forest is cut down, it will be the first known localized extinction of a spotted owl in Canada since the B.C. government unveiled its Spotted Owl Management Plan. That's what the Ministry of Environment is telling us. It would be a cause of shame for all Canadians if we allow the owls to be killed," said WCWC campaign director, Joe Foy.
"We look forward to being back in court next week," added Sierra Legal lawyer Devon Page says. "We intend to argue that the Ministry of Forests' district manager in Chilliwack failed to properly consider Ministry of Environment objections to Cattermole's logging plans."
"Environment officials have repeatedly told the company and government forestry officials that this forest is inhabited by an endangered species,"
Page added. "We hope the court will agree with us that the Ministry of Forests must consider the plight of endangered species before deciding whether or not to approve logging plans."
Page said Justice Cullen found that there was enough written evidence before the court to show that Ministry of Environment officials had legitimate concerns about the fate of the owls.
Logging of old-growth forests and the resulting loss of habitat has resulted in a 45 per cent decline in Canada's spotted owl population in the last nine years.
The court case resumes July 4.
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For further information: Devon Page, (604) 685-5618; Joe Foy,
(604) 880-2580 or (604) 683-8220