Here is some more complete information on the various BC report cards, for those
desiring information to attack all those "wild fringe environmentalists".
The complete text of the originally cited report (the "F" grade) may be read
(via Acrobat .pdf file) at this location:
http://www.sierralegal.org/reports.htm
It was issued by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF), Sierra Club of BC, Silva
Forest Foundation, and BC Environmental Network, Forest Caucus. About 20 pages
with two pages of end notes.
This report focuses on rating the logging industry with respect to
sustainability, species endangerment, landslides, enforcement, public
participation, etc. The web page also has about six other reports on various
deficiencies in BC forest practices, including landslides, lack of riparian
protection. Some are quite lengthy.
SLDF is also influential in the US, notably on the spotted owl work in the NW
(and many, many other significant environmental issues). I would characterize
them as representing the public interests in ensuring that existing
environmental laws are followed. Government and industry have been "attacked"
(as Patrick claims), only to the extent that they break the laws. My
information is that SLDF normally does not take on suits or work unless there is
a fairly egregious situation in play.
The World Wildlife Fund (the C+ grade) report may be seen at this location:
http://www.wwfcanada.org/reportcard/index.htm
To quote: "The report summarizes the progress made by governments across Canada
toward fulfilling their commitment to complete an ecologically representative
network of protected areas across the country by the year 2000". A snippet of
the press release regarding the BC grade is pasted below. It would seem that
the same concerns are present in both reports. but the WWF rewarded BC progress
in the Northern Rockies and focuses on the protected lands network, not industry
practices.
Snippet of BC Press Release regarding the WWF Report Card:
"...The C+ grade acknowledges B.C.’s celebrated designation of one million
hectares of new protected areas in the Northern Rockies, with an additional 3.3
million hectares of surrounding lands legislated as Special Management Zones. In
addition, the grade recognizes B.C.’s purchase and protection of the
11,000-hectare Empire Valley Ranch in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. However, the
relatively modest grade also reflects three serious shortcomings in provincial
policy:
There is a large backlog of new protected areas which have been announced, but
still are not legislated;
Special Management Zones designed by regional land use planning tables are being
logged at rates that were not intended, degrading important habitat values that
were supposed to be maintained;
Government policy states that by the year 2000, all of B.C.’s natural diversity
will be "represented" in the protected areas system. But its decisions to date
show a clear bias against protecting riparian areas and lower elevation forests
(the ecosystems most threatened by logging), in favour of protecting higher
elevations and non-forested areas...."
End of snippet.
Protecting higher elevation lands was and still is a favorite ploy in the United
States, and a common quotation is to tout the number of protected acres, not
mentioning that they are mostly alpine; important land, to be sure, but far
removed from the low elevation valleys where the "fat" timber is part of the
most biologically rich temperate rainforests in the world. Too bad that the US
has to set this sort of example, and too bad that others follow it.....
Tom Haswell
541-757-7608
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-forest@listserv.funet.fi
> [mailto:owner-forest@listserv.funet.fi]On Behalf Of Patrick Moore
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 1998 8:51 AM
> To: FOREST@listserv.funet.fi
> Subject: Re: BC FORESTRY FAILING
>
>
> >A Forestry Report Card was recently
> >released by the British Columbian activists and the World Wildlife
> >Fund giving a "F" grade to government and timber industry's forest
> >practices.
>
> This is in error. The World Wildlife Fund report card, which is not related
> to the "F" given by the Sierra Legal Defense Fund, gave British Columbia a
> C+ for protection of forests. The Sierra Legal Defense Fund is basically an
> anti-logging group of lawyers raising funds to attack the industry.
>
> Cheers
>
> Patrick Moore, Greenspirit
> http://www.greenspirit.com
> May the Forest be With You
>
> Snail Mail:
> 4068 West 32nd Avenue
> Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1Z6
> Canada
>
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0