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===== A message from the 'landwatch' discussion list ===== Logging Imminent in Cathedral Grove! Oct.3, 2001 It's hard to believe, but part of Cathedral Grove may be cut down within a couple of days time unless there is a LOUD and IMMEDIATE outcry. Few people realize that only a portion of the Grove is protected with the tiny Macmillan Provincial Park - the rest is on Weyerhaeuser's corporate private lands. In the next few days, Weyerhaeuser plans three cut blocks among some of the very biggest trees that remain - this will also further expose the rest of the grove in the adjacent provincial park to blowdown. With only 1% of our ancient Douglas fir forests remaining, and Cathedral Grove being the most famous old-growth forest in Canada, you'd think Weyerhaeuser would have the sense and humility to leave this patch alone. But, alas, we must fight even over this tiny scrap - let them know what you think! Phoning and faxing is best at this late stage in the conflict (if not,
then e-mail) and register your opinion to: Let her know whether the BC government should expand MacMillan Provincial
Park to include the entire Cathedral Grove and halt the logging there. Also,
very importantly, contact: Let Weyerhaeuser know whether you think they will face a boycotts campaign if
they log in and adjacent to Cathedral Grove - whether their honeymoon with
environmentalists as the "green" logging company will come to an end if the log
the Grove. Anyone needing more information please contact: If you can directly assist in important protests in the Grove, contact: The following is forwarded from Richard Boyce, a forest activist from the Errington/Qualicum area: CATHEDRAL GROVE 2001 News Update Oct. 2 Monday October 1, 2001 at Weyerhaeuser’s North West Bay logging division which is responsible for all operations on Vancouver Island south of Port Alberni. Chief Forest Managers Sears and Venus stated that they were going ahead with plans to log on the land adjacent to Cathedral Grove. This privately owned land is being targeted for it’s huge Douglas Fir which can be exported as raw logs to mills in Washington, avoiding the 19.3% tariff imposed by the USA government. Any day now Weyerhaeuser will add onto a two kilometre road they put in last year which is nothing short of a narrow clear-cut and create two helicopter drop sites (Small Clear-cuts). These will be used next year to log a very steep slope which contains most of the remaining Old Growth Douglas Firs in the Valley know as Cathedral Grove that is just outside the MacMillan Park. Sears and Venus wanted assurances that any protest would be contained along the highway. They do not want to see anyone inside the falling area, probably because WCB rules state that the area would have to be shut down until the area was secured and public safety could be guaranteed. They would not reveal the date falling will commence, however the entire operation should only take 3 to 4 days. Only Forest Guardians who could sleep in the area might raise the alarm before the damage is done. As for protest, please come out when you can to support this tiny example of what the forest once looked like along most of the east coast of Vancouver Island. Cathedral Grove’s Park should be enlarged to allow millions more of the local, national, and international people to marvel at what is left of the splendor of this magnificent forest. In just 2 days 500 hundred signatures were put onto a petition to the Federal and Provincial governments to expand MacMillan Park. Lets keep up the momentum and stop Weyerhaeuser from destroying out National Landmark. Please pass this message onto others. Thanks. Join 26 000 Canadians and become a WCWC member! Members receive our beautiful endangered wilderness calendars, our literature, and discounts in our store. The more people we represent, the more influence we have on government decisions. www.wildernesscommittee.org Membership : WCWC Victoria - Rainforest Store and Office |
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