VICTORIA – The Wilderness Committee has captured photos of fresh old-growth logging from the south side of Walbran Valley. Last week, the Wilderness Committee’s Vancouver Island campaigner Torrance Coste and other staff traveled to the Walbran to photo-document several  areas that were clearcut logged over the winter by Teal Jones.

“These new clearcuts are right  across the river from the Central Walbran, and we’re running out of time to protect the old-growth forest there,”  said Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee. “What was ancient rainforest just a few months ago are now steep slopes covered in huge stumps – some from trees more than eight hundred years old.”

Since last year, thousands of citizens have called on the Premier and the Minister of Forests for the protection of the Central Walbran Valley, an intact 486-hectare area of old-growth forest on the north side of the river. The Wilderness Committee and other organizations have met with representatives from the Ministry of Forests and Teal Jones to advocate for increased old-growth forest protection in the Walbran Valley.

Teal Jones and government officials have so far refused, arguing logging can be done with minimal environmental impact. Teal Jones obtained injunctions over the winter to keep protesters out of the area.

The company and the Ministry of Forests have also ignored motions passed recently by the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities that call for the protection of old-growth in places like the Walbran Valley.

“Teal Jones likes to call itself an environmentally responsible company, but on the ground it’s obvious that this couldn’t be further from the truth,” Coste said. “They’re liquidating some of the last old-growth on Vancouver Island.”

The Wilderness Committee is renewing its call to the Provincial Government and the Official Opposition to take immediate action. The Walbran Valley is in the unceded territory of the Pacheedaht Nation.

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For more information, please contact:

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

Additional Media Resources

PHOTOS: New clearcuts in Walbran Valley 
(Please credit Torrance Coste or Emily Hoffpauir)