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Archive for category: News

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News, Wildlife Blog

Your Input Into Logging Practices In BC Is Needed Right Away

Public review and comment processes for the following forest practices laws are coming to a close. There is just enough time for you to write some comments:

For Crown land logging: the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) — deadine July 15

A government discussion paper and online form are available at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/forestandrangepractices. But it would be better to send a letter to engageFRPA@gov.bc.ca.

2006 logging in the Incomappleux Valley under the FRPA

The old Forest Practices Code was massively weakened in 2004 to produce the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). Now stronger rules are desperately needed to respond to the dual crises of climate change and species loss. These are VWS’s top priorities for amending the FRPA:

  1. End the logging of old-growth forests 250 years or older.
  2. Five-Year Plans with public access to maps showing the location and size of clearcuts should be restored.
  3. Provisions for protecting slope stability and watersheds, such as those in the old Forest Practices Code, should be restored. It used to be illegal for companies to cause landslides, but under the FRPA, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the  Ministry of Environment don’t even investigate landslides.
  4. Consumptive-use watersheds should be a distinct category, identified in the FRPA and in logging plans, and protected under law, not under guidelines. This category should have increased protective measures.
  5. Waste volumes rose substantially under the FRPA while fines for it declined.  This requires stronger regulation.

For more recommendations download VWS’s full submission to government here.

For Private land logging, the Private Managed Forest Land Act (PMFLA) — deadline July 22.

Government background information and online comment form: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/privatemanagedforest/ However, VWS urges you to write a letter instead, because the online form  skirts the major problems with this law and program. You can send letters to government to PMFLProgramReview@gov.bc.ca. VWS calls for three important changes to the PMFL Act:

1. The Private Managed Forest Land Program should be mandatory for all private land logging.
2. The forest practice regulations for the PMLF Program should be strengthened to the level that is required on Crown land.
3. The PMFLA should not provide participants an exemption from restrictions on logging passed by local governments.

For more information download VWS’s full submission to government here.

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2404IncmpCC-lr.jpg 318 504 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-07-13 01:10:162020-06-20 13:20:56Your Input Into Logging Practices In BC Is Needed Right Away
News, Wildlife Blog

URGENT!!! Deadline For Public Input On Mountain Caribou Extended To May 31, 2019

Last year the federal Minister of Environment (EC) announced that Mountain Caribou are facing “imminent threat to recovery” because of habitat loss, and said that IMMEDIATE new habitat protection is urgently required. Unfortunately, negotiations between BC, the EC and some First Nations have already taken one whole year. The result is two government-to-government draft agreements: 1) a proposed “Partnership Agreement” between BC, Canada and two First Nations for the management of South Peace herds; and 2) a proposed “Section 11 Agreement” (named for Section 11 of the Species at Risk Act) for all the herds. The government is now seeking public comments on these two draft Agreements.  The draft Partnership Agreement is approved by VWS and other environmental groups.  The draft Section 11 Agreement is opposed by VWS and various other environmental groups. It includes the “Southern Group” (a.k.a. “Deep-snow Caribou”) of the Interior Wetbelt. This draft agreement would put the Deep-snow Caribou in much danger, because it proposes to take two more years of public process just to consider new protection. Meanwhile BC’s unsustainable logging and rampant oil and gas development will be decimating the habitat under consideration. Four herds have been lost since 2014. A well-organized industry misinformation campaign is telling people that saving more habitat for caribou will destroy their jobs and communities. To outweigh these falsehoods, it is going to take every possible person who cares about BC’s wildlife to write a letter to the government. If you care — act now!

See the government documents here. Fill out the government’s online comment form here.   Click here to see VWS’s map showing how much habitat of the Deep-snow Caribou has been logged. Click here for VWS’s full 13-page submission to government. Many people prefer to write a letter rather than use the government’s comment form. Click “more” to see VWS’s key points for letter writing, plus email addresses to ensure your letter is received by government by May 31.

Read more

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Grfroerer429-lr-web.jpg 300 432 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-05-23 21:06:482020-06-20 13:22:04URGENT!!! Deadline For Public Input On Mountain Caribou Extended To May 31, 2019
News, Wildlife Blog

Trout Lake Logging Risks Wiping Out Central Selkirk Mountain Caribou Herd

Photo: Jim Lawrence

West Kootenays, Trout Lake —The Central Selkirk caribou herd lost another six animals last year; at 25 animals, it is in high danger of being wiped out. Yet BC Timber Sales (BCTS) is logging some of the herd’s last remaining old-growth forest along Trout Lake in the Lardeau River Valley. “I have been seeing caribou tracks on the edge of the clearcuts,” says Jim Lawrence, President of Friends of the Lardeau River and prominent wildlife photographer. “The two governments’ continued disregard for caribou survival is outrageous and makes a mockery of the Species at Risk Act.”

“This has been happening while the federal and provincial governments have spent a whole year talking about how they are going to protect more caribou habitat,” says Craig Pettitt, a Director of the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS). “Now the BC government says it wants another two years to complete new herd plans.”

Read more

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Logging-30k-Trout-Lake-May-3-2019-1200px_DSC5147.jpg 427 640 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-05-23 16:58:342020-06-20 13:22:34Trout Lake Logging Risks Wiping Out Central Selkirk Mountain Caribou Herd
News, Wildlife Blog

Protection Of Old-Growth Forest Crucial To Limiting Climate Change

A recent report has revealed that British Columbia’s greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions is not accounted for in Canada’s emissions reports. Old growth forests contribute tremendously to global climate regulation and carbon sequestration.

Read more
by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/150620Haddow-Cr.jpg 998 1500 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-04-12 16:58:242020-06-20 13:24:40Protection Of Old-Growth Forest Crucial To Limiting Climate Change

Board of Directors

Richard Caniell

Craig Pettitt

Wayne McCrory

Gene Parker

by Anne
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png 0 0 Anne https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Anne2018-11-15 14:49:242018-12-27 18:26:07Board of Directors
News, Wildlife Blog

At Long Last: IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS

IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN
to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS

Valhalla Wilderness Society

(See also: Reflections and Gratitude on the End of the Grizzly Bear Hunt, by VWS Chair, bear biologist Wayne McCrory)

The end of 2017 brought the end to all grizzly bear hunting in BC, except for First Nations’ sustenance and ceremonial use. During the election, the new government administration promised the ban for all of BC, but announced post-election that only the Great Bear Rainforest on the coast would have a total ban; the rest of the province would be subject to a grizzly bear “meat hunt”. Forty-five environmental and animal care groups, bear scientists, grizzly bear viewing businesses and artists sent a letter to government and media charging that the meat hunt was a trophy hunt in disguise. Other groups joined in direct consultations with government, and four thousand people sent emails with 78% favouring an end to all hunting of grizzly bears in BC. Finally, on December 18, 2017 the BC Government announced a complete ban, with the exception of First Nations’ sustenance and ceremonial use. This momentous decision is just cause for celebration by all. The government has also committed to implementing the recommendations of the 2017 Auditor General’s (AG’s) report on BC’s grizzly bear management.

Read more

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/griz-collage-for-web-3.jpg 410 600 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2017-10-07 22:50:532020-02-05 12:37:59At Long Last: IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS
News, Wildlife Blog

Blue-Listed Western Toads Threatened by NACFOR Logging

Toad vs Grader

Toadlets found squashed in the road while NACFOR prepares to log

A recent photo and video expedition has revealed thousands of Western Toads are dispersing into their forested habitat that is slated to be imminently logged. The images and video show toads under logging equipment, on logging roads as well as on branch roads into the logging cut blocks. Branch roads were constructed in February 2016. Two weeks ago, NACFOR had started grading the logging roads while hundreds of toads were migrating across it.

“Now they have brought in a feller-buncher, which means logging could begin at any time,” says Craig Pettitt, a director of the Valhalla Wilderness Society. “We recorded young toads all around their machine. We are outraged that the government and NACFOR would allow logging in critical toad habitat when it is clear toads will be killed left, right and centre.”

Read the full Press Release
To View the Video: https://youtu.be/peK9lE8YrWo

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3628ToadGrdr.jpg 327 540 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2016-06-17 11:24:232020-02-05 12:37:59Blue-Listed Western Toads Threatened by NACFOR Logging

Wolf and Cougar Kill in Cariboo Range

Open Letter to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell on the Killing of Wolves and Cougars to Save Mountain Caribou

Photo Credit - USFWS

Photo Credit – USFWS

Sixteen environmental organizations have signed a letter to Premier Campbell listing the reasons for their strong opposition to the killing of large carnivores (wolves, cougars, bears, wolverines) as a means to save the mountain caribou. Wolves and cougars are currently being trapped and shot as part of the Mountain Caribou Recovery Plan. The government has proposed to escalate the elimination of wolves by shooting them from helicopters.

Download the open letter (May 3, 2010) to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell


Update on Wolf Kill Situation in Mountain Caribou Range

The BC government has apparently received a large volume of letters in opposition to killing wolves to save caribou, and has recognized the overwhelming public opposition in the press. An article in the Vancouver Sun by Larry Pynn (“We’re a never kill wolf province, public says,” March 18, 2010) summarized the current situation:

Photo Credit – Gary Kramer

“The public has rejected the idea of an aerial wolf kill in B.C. to benefit threatened mountain caribou, even before the first gun has been loaded.”

“But whether the B.C. government listens to the public, or to the scientists who say the kill is vital for caribou recovery, remains to be seen.”

“Chris Ritchie, manager of species at risk recovery for the ministry of environment, said Wednesday the response has been overwhelmingly negative since the proposed aerial wolf kill became widely known in February.”

Thanks to the many letter writers, the BC Ministry of Environment has sent several kinds of reply letters to people who sent in their comments. The Valhalla Wilderness Society has sent a detailed rebuttal to the Premier and the Ministry of Environment.


Wolf Slaughter From Helicopters
Could Begin Soon in BC’s Interior Wetbelt

Photo Credit - TracyBrooks USFWS

Photo Credit – Tracy Brooks USFWS

Sources wishing to remain anonymous have told the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) that the provincial government will make a decision very soon on whether to begin slaughtering wolves from helicopters. The use of helicopters is an escalation of the wide-spread slaughter of wolves and cougars that has been happening over the last three years under the excuse of saving mountain caribou. Prey species that attract wolves are also being targeted for increased killing, especially moose. One knowledgeable source told VWS that hunters are now allowed to shoot cows and calves. Cougars are being eliminated in some areas.

  • See Action Alert
  • See Press Release
  • Download the Ministry of Environment Report
  • Download the VWS letter (April 21, 2010) to the BC government

Write a Message Today

Prime Minister of Canada: pm@pm.gc.ca
Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan: Duncan.J@parl.gc.ca
Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice: Minister@ec.gc.ca
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea: Shea.G@parl.gc.ca

by Anne
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png 0 0 Anne https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Anne2016-02-29 14:50:452016-02-29 14:55:40Wolf and Cougar Kill in Cariboo Range

Resources and Reports

Source and Information Documents in PDF or HTML format available for download.

  • Fact Sheets / Proposals / Editorials / Articles
  • Petitions / Support / Sign-On Documents
  • Press Releases
  • Letters to Government and Other Entities
  • Reports – Scientific and Research
  • Campaign and Project Updates
  • Miscellaneous / Posters / Music / Events
  • Newsletters

The Valhalla Wilderness Society works with scientists and researchers in a broad range of fields, such as wildlife biologists, forest ecologists, hydrologists, anthropologists, GIS map experts, geographers, terrain stability experts, botanists, and many others.

Proper science is a key tool in understanding the world around us, and recognizing the intricacies and fragility of the ecosystems in which we live. Too often, biased or faulty science is used by industries or government as the justification for proceeding with faulty projects, designed more out of concern for extracting maximum profits than with living responsibly on the earth.

Our research and background material in the form of press releases, fact sheets, information bulletins, and reports is made available to all. Much of this material can be accessed directly on the website’s individual project pages. If you are searching for a specific item, there is also a wealth of information in the links above.

The sharing of information, resource and research material with other ENGOs, communities, government and the general public furthers the progress of all environmental issues.

by Anne
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png 0 0 Anne https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Anne2016-02-17 15:12:222020-05-19 08:33:10Resources and Reports
News, Wildlife Blog

More Protection for the Great Bear Rainforest

Final announcement February 1, 2016.

Spirit Bear Mother and Cub

Spirit Bear Mother and Cub

On February 1, 2016, the province and coastal First Nations announced the “final” protection agreement for the Great Bear Rainforest (GBR) on the BC coast. Since 1/3 of the GBR was protected in 2006, ten years of negotiations between the larger environmental groups, forest companies and coastal First Nations finally resulted in a GBR conservation agreement. Part of this can be found at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/TASB/SLRP/LRMP/Nanaimo/CLUDI/GBR/Orders/GBR_LUO_Signed_29Jan2016.pdf

There is some cause for celebration since noteworthy improvements have been made in coastal logging guidelines and in adding 10 new partially protected areas which brings the grand total of parks, conservancies and partial protection designations to 38% overall. This is near to the minimum of 40-50% full protection agreed to in 2004 in a landmark GBR-ENGO protocol. One of our favourite watersheds, The Green, will be protected, but unfortunately, Gribbell Island, mother island of the white bears won’t be. Also will be some reduction of the grizzly bear trophy hunt.
Read the full review

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SprtBearCb.jpg 361 540 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2016-02-01 13:49:222020-02-05 12:37:59More Protection for the Great Bear Rainforest
News, Wildlife Blog

Declining Caribou Herds Displaced by Snowmobilers

A trail groomer used to pack snowmobile trails from valley bottoms up into subalpine winter caribou habitat

A trail groomer used to pack snowmobile trails from valley bottoms up into subalpine winter caribou habitat

BC GOVERNMENT CARIBOU MANAGERS REPORT
DECLINING HERDS DISPLACED BY SNOWMOBILERS

Top government managers of B.C.’s Mountain Caribou Recovery Plan (MCRIP) have reported that the plan is failing to keep snowmobiles out of caribou’s winter habitat, even as caribou herds race towards extinction. In their 2015 briefing report to the MCRIP Progress Board (1), the government managers said that caribou are being displaced from winter feeding grounds by snowmobilers, some of whom are riding in areas legally closed to snowmobiling. The BC Government’s own Mountain Caribou Progress Board has called for voluntary snowmobile closures to become legal closures. But meanwhile the government is allowing a booming industry of groomed snowmobile trails into mountain caribou habitat, where snowmobile clubs are charging $25 per sled to use the trails. And the website of BC’s own Ministry of Environment provides a handy list BC snowmobile dealers and their phone numbers, in case you want a snowmobile to ride in mountain caribou habitat: a chilling example of the government’s double-faced policies, in claiming such concern for saving caribou as to require shooting wolves from helicopters, yet ignoring the packed-snow highways that snowmobiles make for wolves and cougars to have easy access to caribou in winter.

Read the full Press Release
Download the backgrounder

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/0165PwdrPckr.jpg 375 540 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2015-11-03 11:29:242020-02-05 12:37:59Declining Caribou Herds Displaced by Snowmobilers
News, Wildlife Blog

Mountain Caribou Plan Failed To Protect Adequate Inland Temperate Rainforest

Summer 2015 logging of old growth hemlock forests by BC Timber Sales in unprotected mountain caribou habitat on the west side of Trout Lake Summer 2015 logging of old growth hemlock forests by BC Timber Sales in unprotected mountain caribou habitat on the west side of Trout Lake

Summer 2015 logging of old growth hemlock forests by BC Timber Sales in unprotected mountain caribou habitat on the west side of Trout Lake

MOUNTAIN CARIBOU PLAN FAILED TO PROTECT
ADEQUATE INLAND TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

While the Province doles out tax dollars to kill wolves and pen caribou, logging
continues to destroy the caribou’s habitat, putting many other species at risk.

Ten environmental groups have sent a letter to BC Premier Christy Clark, urging the creation of new parks in the Interior Wetbelt. The groups say the parks would be for mountain caribou and for all species associated with Inland Temperate Rainforest.  BC’s Conservation Data Centre website shows 40 red- and blue-listed species in the humid/wet cedar-hemlock forests where the mountain caribou range. The proposals are the Selkirk Mountain Caribou Park Proposal, the Quesnel Lake Wilderness and the Walker Wilderness in the Robson Valley. These areas have some of the highest biodiversity in the Interior Wetbelt, and they have formerly been recognized by the BC government as having high values for old-growth Inland Temperate Rainforest and Mountain Caribou. Instead the government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on experimental techniques to kill wolves and pen pregnant mountain caribou. If the caribou are lost, all the habitat protected under the recovery plan could revert to logging and other industrial use. The BC taxpayers could be left with nothing to show for millions of dollars spent on years of caribou conservation: no caribou and no new parks to help other species at risk, while the caribou conservation zones revert to logging and other industrial use.

Download the full text of the press release
Download the letter to Premier Christy Clark
Fact Sheet on the Selkirk Mountain Caribou Park Proposal
Fact Sheet on the Quesnel Lake Wilderness Area Proposal

by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/4429BgrCk.jpg 292 468 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2015-09-30 11:38:032020-02-05 12:37:59Mountain Caribou Plan Failed To Protect Adequate Inland Temperate Rainforest
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