Logging corporation Tembec threatens wildlife in Nopiming Park

Tembec, the giant multinational logging corporation currently clearcut logging Nopiming Park, has been attempting to get the Wildlife Guidelines removed within its Forest Management License Area. This action could decimate the moose population and quadruple the size of clearcut logging sites.

The news of Tembec's lobby efforts has outraged outfitters and lodge owners. "There won't be a single caribou, whitetail, or moose calf left in the area if government lets this happen," fumed Ron Alexander, owner of Bird River Outfitters, adding that the wolf population is abnormally high right now.
The Wildlife Guidelines are designed to regulate the size of logging sites. If the cut areas are too large, wildlife survival is threatened due to habitat loss and a lack of shelter from predators. An animal needs to be within 200 meters of forest cover at all times in a clearcut, according to the current guidelines. This limits the size of clearcut areas to a maximum diameter of 400 meters in any direction.

Many times over the past several years Tembec has been charged with violating the Wildlife Guidelines. This has resulted in repeated warnings and fines for the logging giant. One of these overcuts resulted in an area over 1,600 meters (1 mile) long being clearcut. Instead of complying with the law, Tembec is now attempting to change it to fit their needs.

The Wilderness Committee is equally concerned about Tembec's request. "Parks are places for recreation and wildlife protection, not industrial logging," stated Eric Reder, Manitoba Director of the Wilderness Committee. "Now Tembec wants to make a bad situation worse by bullying the Manitoba government into disregarding the needs of our treasured wildlife. Time and time again, Manitobans have asked for better wildlife protection and security for our parks. This is a shameful and irresponsible request by Tembec."

The Wilderness Committee is Canada's largest member-based wilderness protection group, with 70,000 members and supporters. We work on protecting wild spaces and wild species through strategic research and grassroots public education.

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For more information contact:
Eric Reder: Office (204) 942-9292 Mobile: (204) 997-8584
email: eric@wildernesscommittee.mb.ca