NDP blamed for failing to save Vancouver Island old-growth giants from logging

Environmentalists on Vancouver Island arecalling on theNDP government to deliver on an election promise to protect old-growth forests.

The demand follows the recent felling of huge, ancient trees in theNahmintValley near Port Alberni.

The Ancient Forest Alliance says in late May trees up to 70 metres tall and as wide as three metres in diameterwere cut down as part of logging on Crown land made possible by the government agency B.C. Timber Sales(BCTS).

"These are some of the biggest, oldest living creatures that have ever existed in Earth's history," said Ken Wu, executive director for the alliance. "It's ethically wrong, it's ecologically destructive."

The organization says the Nahmint Valley, which lies inthe territory of theHupacasathandTseshahtFirst Nations, has extensive stands of old-growth forests similar to those inClayoquot Sound.

Hupacasathmember Brenda Sayerssays she was dismayed upon learning that trees that big were being logged.

"I was horrified," said Sayers, a former federal Green Party candidate.

She often visits the area and describes it as magnificent and magical. She also says it has culturalsignificance as a sacred site for her nation.

"We are caretakers of the land," she said. "It's our responsibility to safeguard what is there for future generations."

Sparing legacy trees

In January, theBCTSimplemented abest practices management plan for coastal legacy trees, which it describes as exceptionally large and old trees.

Thedocumentsays the specimensare a unique feature of B.C.'s coastal forests thathelp with habitat conservation and support ecotourism.

It sets guidelines for loggers to spare yellow cedar, coastal Douglas fir, sitkaspruce and western red cedar. For example, a Douglas fir with adiameterof at least 2.1 metres must be preserved.

The alliance saysa Douglas fir felled in theNahmintValley was largerthan this and is surprised it wasn't saved but theBCTSdocument also includes operationalfactors, such as safety hazards,that allow legacy trees to be felled.

"Right now it's generally legal to log these old-growth forests.It doesn't make it right," said Wu.

Focus on second-growth

Environmentalists on Vancouver Island have for years campaigned to have B.C. stop the practice of logging old-growth forests and focus solely on second-growth instead.

As part of its 2017 election platform, the NDP promised to partner with First Nations to modernize land-use planning.

That included using the ecosystem-based management of the Great Bear Rainforest as a model.

In 2016an agreement was struck to protect 85 per cent of the forest 3.1 million hectares from industrial logging.

Wu says that, so far, the NDPhas not committed to its election promise.

"I think they're trying to figure out their position as we continue to push and as there's a massive old-growth logging industry lobby that is also pushing them," he said.

Old growth protections

A statement from the Ministry of ForestssaidBCTShas awarded five timber sales worth 319 hectares since August 2016 in the NahmintValley, and that logging continues to support jobs in places like Port Alberni.

The ministry says there are 2,760 hectares of old growth protected in the valley and that there are520,000 hectares of old-growth forests that will never be logged on Vancouver Island.

"Government is continuously reviewing practices to ensure healthy ecosystems and that logging is sustainable," said Forests Minister Doug Donaldson in the statement.

The NDPcommitted $16 million over three years in its latest budget to modernize land-use planning. It says there will be an update on progress in the fall.