News Release

Demonstration demands Ministry of Forests deny logging permits in key old-growth area

VICTORIA – Environmental activists and citizens are rallying today at the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations office in Victoria, to urge the government to deny permits for proposed logging in one of BC’s most significant tracts of old-growth rainforest.

Organizers aim to raise awareness about impending old-growth logging in the central Walbran Valley – an area that was the focus of protests in the 1990s during the War in the Woods.

Last month, the Wilderness Committee obtained preliminary plans for cutblocks in the Walbran from logging company Teal Jones. A few weeks later, Teal Jones made its first application to the BC government – for a cutblock on a steep slope above Walbran Creek that contains monumental redcedar trees.

“In just a few weeks, over 850 people have written letters to the Premier and the Minister of Forests, asking them to deny logging permits in the Walbran Valley,” said Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee. “So far, it has been total silence from our provincial government, so we’re here to make some noise and demand that they address this crisis.”

After surveying tape first appeared in the Walbran in October 2014, the Wilderness Committee spent nearly six months in dialogue with Teal Jones, highlighting the ecological significance and extreme scarcity of intact old-growth forests. The Wilderness Committee asked the company to stay out of just 0.5% of its nearly 100,000-hectare tenure, but Teal Jones set all eight of its preliminary cutblocks within this area.

“The company has proven that it doesn’t care about environmental and public concerns,” Coste said. “It’s our government’s job to protect the environment and listen to citizens, so we’re calling on the Premier and Forest Minister to do just that.”

The rally takes place today at 12:00 p.m. outside the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Office at 780 Blanshard St., Victoria. The peaceful demonstration will feature speakers from the Wilderness Committee, the Friends of Carmanah/Walbran and other groups.

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 For more information, please contact:

Torrance Coste | Vancouver Island Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
(250) 516-9900, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org