High time for new forest management model
Dear North Cowichan mayor and council:
I fully and respectfully endorse the de-centralized forest management proposal — as promoted by Coun. Rob Douglas, our UBCM and others — and a potential pilot project for Vancouver Island and Coastal B.C.
This proactively prudent project would go light-years toward preserving our forest economies and communities IF community managers adopt strict, sustainable forest-harvesting practices, ban clear-cutting, ban all raw-log exports, foster and promote value-added products, and work to end our wastefully bureaucratic provincial government stranglehold on our forest resources.
The sad crises and conflicts in our woodlands — and attendant job losses — have apparently been promoted, extended and sustained by inept tree-farm licence management and vast over-cutting, according to many forest scientists and environmental groups.
This appalling tradition in the name of big business has also decimated our precious old-growth forests and their vital biodiversities. Whole watersheds and salmon runs have also been victims of obscene clear-cuts and other wasteful practices.
It is high time for a new model of forest management if our province, Island, and municipality are to have any type of future regarding forest harvesting, economic benefits, job creation, biodiversity, recreational values and cultural respect.
On Jan. 15, please consider and support Coun. Douglas’ proposal concerning a de-centralized forest management plan.
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan