Oppostion Forest Critic Joins Tour of Threatened Nanoose Bay Forest
Forest Critic, Norm MacDonald will be joined by Wilderness Committee’s National Campaign Director Joe Foy, MLA Scott Fraser and other community leaders at 10:30 am Thursday in Nanoose Bay, for a first-hand look at the Nanoose Bay forest after learning that the Provincial Government failed to listen to the community and failed to include this rare and endangered Crown Land parcel in their recent Land Use Order.The tour will meet in Nanoose, (north of Nanaimo ) at the Petrocan station (2345 Island Hwy E ) on the corner of the Inland Island Highway and Northwest Bay Road.
“Community support for the Provincial Government’s recent Land Use Order to protect approx. 1600 hectares of Coastal Douglas-fir (CDFmm) is rapidly turning to outrage as the community input to have Nanoose’s DL33 as well as other crown land parcels of CDFmm protected, has been ignored,” said Annette Tanner, Wilderness Committee, Mid Island spokesperson and organizer of the tour.
“The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) is the association of all municipal and regional governments on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast,” Tanner continues. “The AVICC made a unanimous resolution to have Nanoose’s DL33 included in the Land Use Order.” AVICC's Second Vice-president, Qualicum Beach Councillor Barry Avis will be attending the tour.
“I am aware of many community groups and individuals who have sent letters requesting DL33 as well as ALL remaining Crown Land CDFmm parcels be protected,” said Tanner.
In February the Regional District of Nanaimo, which includes the city of Nanaimo, Parksville and Town of Qualicum Beach passed a unanimous resolution to:
- expand the provincial government initiative to include all of the Coastal Douglas-fir parcels of Crown Land within the Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone and to:
- extend the initiative to include all remaining parcels of Crown Land within the E & N Land Area
"It is our hope that Forest Critic Norm MacDonald will take the community’s message to the Provincial Government, once and for all,” said Tanner.
The public is invited to meet for guided tours of the Nanoose forest and wetlands, at 11:00 am every Saturday, in Nanoose Bay, (north of Nanaimo ) at the Petrocan station (2345 Island Hwy E ) on the corner of the Inland Island Highway and Northwest Bay Road. 250 752-6585 for information.
For further information contact:
Annette Tanner Wilderness Committee, Mid Island Chapter 250 752-6585 or cell 250 240-7470.
