July 28, 1997 Victoria, B.C. Government documents released today substantiate the information contained within "Broken Promises: The Truth About What's Happening to B.C.'s Forests", a report released by Greenpeace on April 21, 1997. The report first prompted Premier Glen Clark to call Environmentalists "enemies of B.C." who are ingaging in a "misinformation campaign". The documents obtained by the Sierra Legal Defense Fund through a Freedom of information REquest reveal that "Greenpeace's report was prepared based largely on, or interpreted from, forest industry and government data including Freedom of Information Requests...It would be difficult to attempt to discredit the report because of the source of so much of the data upon which it is based." "Broken Promises" chronicles a series of commitments made by B.C. Government concerning our new "world class" logging and then contrasted these claims with recent government data to show the reality of what's happening in B.C.'s forests. The report demonstrated that: *92 % of the logging done in B.C. is still clearcutting (97 % in the Coastal Rainforest) *83 % of streams, including some salmon streams, are still being logged right up to the stream banks *none of the code's measures for protecting wildlife or endangered species have been implemented *clearcut loggingcontinues on steep, unstable slopes despite the high risks of landslides *the Code is not being enforced - no charges have been laid for environmental infractions although the Code has been law for over two years *despite government promises, the rate of logging in British Columbia has fallen by less than 1 % from 1991 to 1996 Regarding the accuracy of "Broken Promises"...the B.C. government states: "Greenpeace's report was prepared based largely on or interpreted from government and forest industry data, including Freedom of Information requests...It would be difficult to attempt to discredit the report because of the source of much fo the data upon which it is based." Regarding BIODIVERSITY Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises,states: With no endangered species act and a refusal to implement the elements of the Code that might protect some endangered species, many B.C. wildlife species are in jeopardy. The B.C. Government's internal analysis states: "Greenpeace correctly notes that current government policy supports low biodiveristy emphasis options as the provincial government default....Under low emphasis, the Biodiversity Guidebook indicates, 'The pattern of natural biodiversity will be significantly altered and the risk of some native species being unable to survive in the area will be relatively high." "Until landscape units and landscape unit objectives are in place, low biodiversity emphasis remains as the default, and biodiversity conservation is in jeopardy in British Columbia." "Recent government staffing and budget cuts will increase the time needed to complete landscape unit plans and objectives across the province." Regarding Protected Areas... Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: "While originally the Protected Areas Strategy was intended to protect 12 % of 'representative' ecosystems (i.e. 12 % of each forest type) ...61.2 % (of new protected areas) is classified as alpine/subalpine terrain (meaning rock and ice)." The B.C. Government's internal analysis states: "Greenpeace's analysis is based on protected areas approved to date. This points to a weakness in application of the conservation goals." "Regarding STREAMS AND RIPARIAN AREAS... Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: "83% of streams in 1996 cutblocks were clearcut to their banks, leaving no riparian zone." The B.C. Governments internal analysis states: "For fish streams less than 1.5 meters in width...the Forest Practices Code permits this practice. In other words, under the Code, this practice is not illegal." "Government's regional review of the Sierra Legal Defense Fund's document Stream Protection Under the Code: The Destruction Continues found that 30 % of streams field-checked by government staff were not identified correctly [by the logging companies]. Nine streams (14 %) were not identified at all". Regarding the RATE OF CUT AND THE LOSS OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: The unsustainable rate of cut is the single biggest ecological forestry problem we have. Despite openly ackknowledging the overcut problem...the rate of cut has not slowed. The B.C. Government internal analysis states: "Retention of old growth is increasingly becoming less of an option, and government is now having to consider rebuilding old growth over three rotations while still continuing to harvest old growth as a priority....Fall-down [in harvest levels] is the result of intentional overharvesting of British Columbia's old growth to capture maximum economic benefit from high volume old growth trees...The role of fall-down is not being adequately discussed or acknowledged outside of Timber Supply Review." Regarding STREAMS AND RIPARIAN AREAS Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: The destructive practice called "cross-yarding" - in which downed trees are dragged across streambeds - continues to be common and routine. The B.C. Government's internal analysis states: "currently the discretion left to company engineering staff to fall and yard away where possible is problematic." Regarding the EXCESS OF DISCRETION IN THE FOREST PRACTICES CODE Greenpeace's Broken Promises states: After almost tgwo years under the Code, it is now clear that the discretionary powers given to District Managers have effectively destroyed any power the Code may have to regulate better forest management. The B.c. Government's internal analysis states: "The decision-makers must be fully accountable for their decisions and exercise professional judgement, otherwise the potential for misuse of the power and mismanagement of the resource could remain unchecked." Greenpeace's, Broken Promises, states: Species like woodland caribou, grizzly bears and salmon are still at risk....The current logging plan threatens the outright extinction of an internationally significant herd o 1,500 woodland caribou under provincial stewardship. The B.C. Government's internal analysis states: "Protection for [endangered species is] constrained by a 1% cap on impact on timber supply, previously set by Cabinet....The 1 % impact cap on identified wildlife means that additional protection, through strategic land use plans and higer land use plans, will be required for [grizzly bear] and other wide ranging species, such as mountain caribou....Mountain caribou are not protected in British Columbia....Caribou are being considered for inclusion...but, may be excluded owing to the 1 % timber impact cap. Mountain caribou are also not adequately dealt with in many strategic land use plans, e.g. Caribou-Chilicotin Land Use Plan or other similar plans." Regarding ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WILDLIFE Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: Despite opinion polls showing that 96% of British Columbia want legal protection for endangered species, the government continues to ignore public calls to introduce an endangered species act. The B.C. Government's internal analysis states: "The province has chosen to protect endangered species and their habitat through other mechanisms, e.g. the Protected Areas Strategy and the Forest Practices Code. It should be noted that these mechanisms do not apply to private lands or other non-provincial forest lands. Several important threatened and endangered species occur on lands on eastern Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan, and are threatened by urbanization and agriculture. Some other legislative mechanism would be needed to extend protection beyond areas covered by the Code and Protected Areas." Regarding the IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOREST PRACTICES CODE Greenpeace's report, Broken Promises, states: "With fewer and fewer staff and resources, governemnt enforcement of the Code is changing from unlikely to impossible, and the B.C. forest industry is reverting to the days of self-policing and voluntary compliance. The B.C. Government internal analysis states: "Recent staffing and resource cuts will mean delays as fewer staff are expected to implement the Code....Implementation cannot be expected immediately given available staffing and resources." John Foster Box 271, Clearwater, B.C. VOE INO Canada Ph: 250-587-6402 Fax: 250-587-6432
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0