–British Columbia: 1) “Eco-logging” massacres last old growth cedar groves, 2) Help stop logging on the Jordan River, 3) $1.5-million tree-top walkway, 4) Park views or Trees? 5) Vancouver Island forest stats,
–Canada: 6) FSC interfering with recycled paper markets, 7) Tribal members get sentenced for stealing trees,

Articles:

British Columbia:

1) As usual we are reporting the ongoing high-grading of old growth cedar from west coast slopes in Clayoquot Sound. See photos, this boom is rapidly filling up again. Many new slides are visible in the area, most as a result of logging and road expansion both past and present. It just never seems to end. 90,000 cubic metres have gone out of here this spring and more daily. We were up in Tranquil Inlet trying to find the carcasses of black bears which trophy hunters had taken this past week. It was reported by a Tlaoquiaht FN man who had seen 6 hides in the guide outfitters boat. This guide outfitter has been killing bears in this area and Nootka all spring. This in spite of the protests that were held here previously and the bear watching businesses that are out daily. So it goes in Clayoquot, all the best to you, we hope for positive change. Steve and Susanne Lawson councilfire@hotmail.com – http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/peacefromtrees/TranquilandRankinCoveJuly5th2008002.jpg – http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/peacefromtrees/TranquilandRankinCoveJuly5th2008010.jpg – http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/peacefromtrees/TranquilandRankinCoveJuly5th2008011.jpg – http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w166/peacefromtrees/TranquilandRankinCoveJuly5th2008015.jpg

2) Do you have any advice on how to stop a old growth harvest. There’s a small area left on top of Jordan ridge above Jordan river on Van Isl. that WFP is in the process of high grading out the old growth pockets of timber. many of these 500 year old trees are half rotten and obviously far more valuable as habit.This small rare Valley is alive with bird life (Headwaters of Rosemond creek ) The 60 year old second growth woodlot next to it averages 6-7 inch timber and is a prime example of logging where they have no business being. Would appreciate any contacts of people you may know of who could put the wheels in motion to get the harvest reviewed before its just another irreversible mistake.
Thanks, Brad Harris.BVHarris@shaw.ca

3) A thrilling $1.5-million tree-top walkway through the lush rainforest canopy of majestic conifers at the University of B.C. Botanical Garden in Vancouver opens for business next month. The high-tech prefabricated aluminum walkway will zigzag 308 metres between trees and offer sensational views. It has been designed to give everyone, including those in wheelchairs, the chance to see what life is like 20 metres above the ground in the forest’s hidden canopy. Situated in the David C. Lam Asian Garden section as part of Walk in the Woods Trail, the prefabricated walkway will be connected to nine giant conifers, all sturdy towering grand firs along with a couple of Douglas firs. A ramp will lead people up to the first platform from where they will be able to walk in close proximity to the huge trees and get close-up views of bug and bird life high in the tree tops. Construction began in April after four years of planning, and is expected to be completed this month. The walkway will open for use in mid-August, although the official opening won’t be until Sept. 23. The patented Treehugger technology used on the walkway was developed in B.C. It operates on the same principle as a traditional Chinese finger trap: the walkway and viewing platforms tighten to grip the trees firmly when in use, but relax to allow trees the freedom to grow without hindrance when not in use. The walkway will have “man-catcher” netting on the sides to keep users safe. The narrow bridging walkways will be rigid and won’t rock or sway the way some suspension bridges do. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=de46d8d8-5c4d-4ad6-8a16-d7e7e6881be8

4) Seventy lofty pine, spruce, red cedar and other tall trees in Queen Elizabeth Park could soon have a date with a chainsaw if the proposed tree management plan is approved at the July 7 parks board meeting. The plan proposes cutting the six- to 18-metre-tall trees to restore views from three spots on the north side of the park, plus pruning lateral branches of eight or more trees. Opponents, including Norm Dooley, who has lived across from the park for 32 years, argue the trees themselves are the view. Dooley said he and his wife chose to live across from the urban park because it affords them the peace of nature without having to jump in their car. He believes out-of-towners feel the same way. “Most people who come to Vancouver don’t get out into the bush,” he said. “They come to the park, they see these trees and get a sense of what our nature is like and they go away very happy.” Dooley, a member of the Riley Park/South Cambie CityPlan Committee, finds it “unfathomable” the parks board would choose to chop down trees for what he sees as commercial reasons. Citizens opposed to the plan have gathered more than 700 signatures on a petition. Artist Teresa Waclawik designed T-shirts to complement the campaign and an Art in the Park day is planned for July 6 to celebrate the trees. Artists are invited to add to the merriment and visitors are encouraged to bring refreshments and wear green. Tree management plan opponent and local resident Ned Jacobs will lead tours to the trees proposed to come down. Community Vision steering committee members are disappointed with the process. They argue when the parks board rejected a proposal for an expensive, massive, privately developed observation tower for the park in January, commissioners directed staff to report back on various tree management options with the goal of restoring views, but only received one plan. Allan Buium, chair of the Riley Park/South CityPlan Committee, is upset the parks board held only one open house and worries the related telephone survey could have been misleading. http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=7ba8055e-bb1e-4a57-92df-3a0cb9326560

5) Vancouver Island is home to some of the Earth’s most spectacular, ancient temperate forests. Old-growth forests harbour trees that can grow to be 1800 years old and are home to many species that can’t live in younger forests. They also sequester more atmospheric carbon to counteract climate change than second-growth forests do. In addition, old-growth forests are fundamental pillars of BC’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry and are of great cultural importance to coastal First Nations people. The most recent photo analysis based on 2004 satellite images shows that at that time: 1) 73% of the original productive old-growth forests of Vancouver Island have been logged. 2) 87% of the original productive old-growth forests on southern Vancouver Island, south of Barkley Sound/Alberni Canal, have been logged. 3) 90% of the low elevation (less than 300 meters above sea level), flat (less than 17% slope) ancient forests, such as the valley bottoms, where the largest trees grow and the greatest biodiversity resides, have been logged. 4) Only 6% of Vancouver Island’s productive forest lands are protected in our parks system. 5) Less than 2% of the original old-growth Coastal Douglas fir forests are protected. –The Provincial Government has not committed to protect these forests in the immediate future. read more >> Go to 20/20 Vision’s Blogsite! Now you can converse with other people about the urgently important environmental and peace topics that concern us all. Engage in dialogue with like-minded individuals interested in creating a better world. Share stories, resources, and news of upcoming events. Make suggestions. Let us know how we are doing. Our core volunteers will be posting to the blog too and look forward to meeting you there! Here is the blogsite link: http://2020visionbc.wordpress.com

Canada:

6) FSC-Watch receives many queries and messages of concern, including from industry, as to why the FSC is helping to undermine efforts at paper recycling by allowing the certification of paper with little or no recycled content. We have now received the following article from the May/June 2008 Eco-Journal of the Manitoba Eco-Network, Canada, which we are happy to reproduce. The article provides interesting insights into how SmartWood’s FSC certification of the output from Tembec’s Pine Falls operations has helped destroyed production of recycled paper. Manitoba is now left with a huge pile of collected paper, which can either be burned or landfilled, or shipped to more distant recycling facilities, all of which will increase greenhouse gas emissions. The pulp and paper industry is one of the world’a major greenhouse gas emitters. FSC-Watch would be interested to know if anyone can calculate how much extra CO2 is now going to be produced, compared with the amount of money that Rainforest Alliance SmartWood has earned by issuing the FSC certificate to Tembec. http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2008/07/05/FSC_undermines_paper

6) SAINT JOHN – A Woodstock-based logging company has been fined $2,000 under the province’s Clean Water Act after pleading guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of a permit. C & W Kennedy Farms had been issued a permit to install a bridge over a stream as part of a forest harvest operation in the Burchill Mountain area, near St. Martins, said Crown prosecutor Catherine McNally. But on March 7, a forest ranger found eight violations of the permit, which allowed silt to run into the water, the prosecutor said. For example, the forest was clear cut within three metres on both sides of the brook, when the limit is 30 metres, said McNally. The company was also skidding within 15 metres of a stream; logs and brush were piled in a feeder stream, and a small amount of brush was also in the brook. The company has since complied with a restoration order issued by the provincial Department of Natural Resources, said McNally, who recommended a fine of $2,000. Under the Clean Water Act, fines can range between $1,000 and $1 million, she said. http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/344803

7) Justice Thomas Riordon of Miramichi Court of Queen’s Bench recently issued the ruling and ordered the three men — Robert Francis, Romeo Francis and Alvery Paul — back to provincial court for sentencing. The three were acquitted by a provincial court judge after trial. The Crown appealed the acquittals to the Court of Queen’s Bench in May 2006. The crown was represented by William Richards. Ronald Gaffney appeared on behalf of Alvery Paul, who is a resident of the Burnt Church First Nation, and Daniel Theriault represented Romeo and Robert Francis, who both live on the Eel Ground First Nation. The Department of Natural Resources seized the wood in January 2004. The officers had noticed in November 2003 hardwood trees were being cut on Crown land in an area known as Connell Ridge in Trout Brook. Individuals from the Eel Ground First Nation were observed by the officers cutting in this area. “At first this was thought to be harvesting of wood for personal use by native persons from the Eel Ground First Nation. Later, forestry officers believed this to be for commercial use because of the volumes and quality of the product being removed,” wrote Riordon when outlining the facts of the case. In late December 2003, a forestry officer stopped a truck transporting logs from Connell Ridge and found the records indicated Robert and Romeo Francis had some involvement with the wood. The officer later went to their homes and observed what he estimated to be 35 cords of hardwood logs, 25 cords in the yard of Robert Francis and 10 in that of Romeo Francis. On Jan. 10, 2004, two officers in an unmarked car followed Romeo Francis and a transport truck owned by Robert Sherrard, loaded with logs, to the home of Romeo Francis. Shortly after, a large B-train tractor trailer with Quebec license plates arrived and parked in front of the home of Romeo Francis. “Over the next three hours, logs were loaded from the yards of Romeo and Robert Francis about a kilometre away onto the large tractor trailer. The three-ton truck of Mr. Sherrard with the boom loader was used to load the logs.” http://miramichileader.canadaeast.com/article/344390