For immediate release, Sunday September 23, 2007

Researchers Discover Grizzly Truth:
Clearcuts Planned and Approved by the BC Government in S&M Creek Spotted Owl Territory Located in Crucial High Quality Habitat

Vancouver, BC – Researchers at the Wilderness Committees Spotted Owl Camp near Pemberton spent the past two weeks searching out and analyzing the approved, but as of yet un-logged clearcuts located directly adjacent to where the S&M Creek spotted owl sleeps. “We were concerned about these planned clearcuts because never before in BC has logging been approved so close to a currently active spotted owl site, ” said Wilderness Committee Staff Scientist Andy Miller.

To the dismay of researchers, they found that many of the BC government-approved clearcuts seem to have been located in the highest quality old growth. “Any logging within the territory of a spotted owl is shameful, but to target the biggest and oldest trees is beyond the pale. The BC government calls this selection logging, but when about 90% of the trees are cut, that is called clearcutting,” said Miller. “Logging old growth forests is the single biggest limiting factor that negatively affects the spotted owl, Canadas most endangered animal. The failure of the BC government to map and identify critical habitat for the spotted owl, as required by federal law, is now coming back to haunt us. If this is not critical habitat, what is?” said Miller.

Wilderness Committee researchers described the territory of the S&M Creek spotted owl as an extremely steep north-east facing mountainside, just outside the Garibaldi Provincial Park boundary. But within this rugged terrain, geologic anomalies referred to as “terraces” or “benches” occur. The terraces run perpendicular to slope and thus accumulate rich, deep soil capable of growing bigger, older trees. “What was surprising to our researchers was that these terraces are precisely where many of the planned clearcuts are located.” said Miller. “Some of the trees are over 500 years old.”

“Given this discovery of shameful planned logging activities, it is troubling that the BC government so strongly defends their actions and refuses to cancel the clearcuts.” said Miller. On a recent CBC radio interview, Species At Risk Coordination Office (SARCO) director Mark Zacharias defended the logging of the S&M Creek Spotted Owl Territory. In 2003, the Spotted Owl Recovery Team (a BC government-appointed team of specialists) recommended an end to such logging within active spotted owl territories.

The Wilderness Committee is calling for the immediate and permanent cancellation of the remaining 12 planned clearcuts in the S&M Creek Spotted Owl territory. “The future of the spotted owl and the health of the owls old growth forest ecosystems in southwestern BC comes down to what the BC government decides to do here and now.” said Miller.

For more information contact Andy Miller @ 604-683-8220 or 604-992-3099 (cell)