***********************************************
WORLDWIDE
FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
Canada:
Scientists Recommend End to Clearcutting in Clayoquot
***********************************************
Forest
Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises
June 7,
1995
OVERVIEW
& SOURCE
Following
are reports of an independent, government established
scientific
panel in British Columbia, Canada, which has
recommended
that clearcutting be discontinued at Clayoquot Sound,
the
center of international scutiny and protest for a number of
years. Following are three items posted in econet's
forest.canada
conference. The first is Greenpeace's press release
welcoming the
development,
the second is an action alert sample letter asking
that
letters be written to BC government and industry asking that
the
recommendations are implemented, and the third provides some
details
of the reports actual content.
*******************************
RELAYED
TEXT STARTS HERE:
/**
forest.canada: 405.2 **/
**
Written 12:47 PM May 31, 1995 by
web:focs in cdp:forest.canada
**
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENPEACE
APPLAUDS AS SCIENTISTS RECOMMEND THE END TO
CLEARCUTTING
IN CLAYOQUOT
-
Enviros demand Government immediately Implement Science Panel -
(Vancouver,
B.C.) Monday, 29 May, 1995.- Today Greenpeace
celebrated
the recommendations of the Clayoquot Sound Scientific
Panel
which called for an end to the highly controversial
clearcutting
of Clayoquot Sound.
The
best minds in the field have agreed: clearcutting must end in
Clayoquot
Sound," rejoiced Greenpeace forests campaigner Karen
Mahon.
"Today the scientists added their voice to the call from
environmentalists,
First Nations, and the general public and the
hundreds
arrested - the government must now stop all clearcutting
in
Clayoquot."
Scientific
Panel co-Chair Dr. Fred Bunnell said at this morning's
press
conference that there are two schools of forestry, one
supporting
clearcutting and the other supporting retention
logging:
the Panel has rejected clearcutting in favour of
retention
logging.
Tzeporah
Berman of Greenpeace said, "This is a vindication for all
those
people who want to jail to end clearcutting in Clayoquot
Sound.
If the government and industry don't have the courage to
implement
these recommendations they will ensure continued
conflict
in Clayoquot Sound."
Since
the April 13, 1993 decision opened up widespread
clearcutting,
Clayoquot Sound has been at the centre of
international
scrutiny and protest. In order to head off the
protests,
which began in Europe and more recently spread to the
United
States, the government set up an independent Scientific
Panel
comprised of "blue-ribbon" scientists and First Nations
representatives.
Patrick Anderson, Greenpeace International
forests
coordinator, was in Vancouver for the release of the
Scientific
Panel's final reports.
"International
customers of B.C.'s wood products are watching this
very
closely," said Anderson. "Without immediate implementation of
the
Panel's recommendations, the industry should expect further
contract
suspensions and cancellations."
- 30
-
For
more information, please contact:
Karen
Mahon, Tzeporah Berman or Patrick Anderson, 604 253-7701
*******************************
ITEM
#2
/** forest.canada:
405.4 **/
**
Written 12:53 PM May 31, 1995 by
web:focs in cdp:forest.canada
**
SAMPLE
DRAFT LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF B.C.
The
Hon. Andrew Petter, Ministry of Forests; Fax: (604) 387-1040
The
Hon. Elizabeth Cull, Minister for the Environment; Fax: (604)
307-5594
Dear
Honourable Minister,
We are
writing today to commend you for the integrity and
foresight
you have displayed in establishing the Clayoquot Sound
Scientific
Panel and in inviting panelists of such caliber to
participate
in shaping the future of forestry in our province /
British
Columbia.
Along
with our thanks, we would like to urge you to permit no
delay
in implementing all of the final and interim recommendations
of the
Panel as the minimum acceptable standards for Clayoquot
Sound.
The final reports have been eagerly awaited both here and
around
the world wherever Clayoquot Sound has become a major
environmental
issue. The concern over Clayoquot Sound will not be
satisfied
until truly cutting-edge forestry has been implemented
on the
ground, including the protection of large reserves in the
form of
the intact watersheds.
We are
excited about the possibility now before us to begin to
find
solutions to the bitter dispute in Clayoquot Sound. We urge
your
government to follow the course it has embarked upon with the
establishment
of this panel and to initiate a series of periodic
progress
evaluations by the panel members. Periodic monitoring and
evaluation
by these authorities cannot help but make the necessary
transition
more successful.
As you
know the international environmental and business
communities
have eagerly awaited this report and we will ensure
that
they are made aware of the Panel's final recommendations. We
urge
you to avoid future conflict over Clayoquot Sound and to
waste
no time in accepting the Panel's recommendations and
ensuring
a short implementation period.
Sincerely,
cc:
Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board members -FX:
(604)725-3179
British Columbia Premier's Office FX:(604)387-0087
[Your
embassy if applicable]
*******************************
ITEM
#3
/**
forest.canada: 405.1 **/
**
Written 12:45 PM May 31, 1995 by
web:focs in cdp:forest.canada
**
(1)
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLAYOQUOT SOUND SCIENCE PANEL REPORTS:
The
Science Panel has effectively recommended an end to clearcut
logging.
The report is not all we would want but it must be
implemented
for the campaign to move forward. The Panel recommends
phasing
in a variable retention system THAT MAINTAINS THE EXISTING
STRUCTURE
AND FUNCTION OF THE ORIGINAL OLD GROWTH ECOSYSTEMS.
Retention
recommendations vary from 15-70% retention in all cut
blocks,
depending on management, and biological inventories. In
their
second report they recommended deferring development in
intact
watersheds. That recommendation still stands.
The
government has been very vague on whether they will accept the
recommendations
but it doesn't look good. The Forests Minister
stated
explicitly that this wouldn't change the Clayoquot Land Use
Decision
and that the Science Panels recommendations would have to
be
balanced with economic and social concerns. He promised a
review
and an implementation "plan" within a month.
* When
Premier Harcourt announced the Panel he said "To achieve
our
goal of ensuring sustainable forest practices, it's CRUCIAL
(emphasis
added) to put the task in the hands of an impartial
panel
of recognized experts"
Here
are some quick highlights from the recommendations:
- Limit
the area cut in any watershed larger than 500 ha in total
area to
no more than 5% of the watershed area within a five-year
period.
(200-500 ha - 10%; no further harvest in watersheds
already
20% harvested in the last 10 years) pg. 237
-
Replace conventional silvicultural systems in Clayoquot Sound
with a
"variable-retention silviculture system." The purpose of
this
system is to preserve, in managed stands, far more of the
characteristics
of natural forests. pg. 238
- On
cutting sites with significant values for resources other
than
timber (e.g. visual, cultural, ecological); retain AT LEAST
70% OF
THE FOREST in relatively uniform distribution. On cutting
units
without significant values for resources other than timber
or
without sensitive areas; retain at least 15% of the forest.
-
REGARDLESS OF THE RETENTION LEVEL, ENSURE THAT NO PLACE IN AN
OPENING
IS GREATER THAN TWO TREE HEIGHTS FROM THE EDGE OF AN
EXISTING
AGGREGATE OR STAND. pg. 239
- Phase
in the variable-retention silvicultural system in
Clayoquot
Sound over a five year period. pg. 241
-
Reserves (no harvesting) must be designated on a watershed level
to
protect hydroriparian ecosystems, unstable slopes, red and blue
listed
species, cultural, scenic and recreational values. Reserves
must
represent all ecosystems and ensure linkages among other
planning
areas. pg. 248-9
-
Initiate a long-term monitoring program. pg. 254
For more
information on this action alert, please call:
Friends
of Clayoquot Sound Tel: (604) 725-4218
Fax: 725-2527
Greenpeace Tel: (604) 253-7701 Fax:
253-0114
###RELAYED
TEXT ENDS###
You are
encouraged to utilize this information for personal
campaign
use; including writing letters, organizing campaigns and
forwarding. All efforts are made to provide accurate,
timely
pieces;
though ultimate responsibility for verifying all
information
rests with the reader. Check out our
Gaia Forest
Conservation
Archives at URL=
http://forests.lic.wisc.edu/forests/gaia.html
Networked
by:
Ecological
Enterprises
Email
(best way to contact)-> gbarry@forests.org
Phone->(608)
233-2194 || Fax->(608) 231-2312