🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <lhale.117.743171526@UPEI.CA> lhale@UPEI.CA (Larry Hale) writes:
>
>OK, I'll bite. Virtually every report I've seen regarding this issue
>describes Clayoquot and surroundings as the _last_ area where the ancient
>forests haven't been disrupted. If this isn't correct, then please tell me
>where else in my home province of British Columbia can old growth forest be
>found in it's original state, and which is not on the "cutting block".
_____________
The B.C. State of the Environment Report indicated that 65 per cent of the
9.9 million hectares of productive coastal forest-land base maintains
forest stands over 120 years old.  This age predates virtually all logging
outside of the urban areas of the time therefore these stands would not
have suffered any significant disturbance by man.  The Clayoquot Sound
area represents the largest remaining *relatively* undisturbed forest area
on Vancouver Island only.  Large areas of forest on the Island outside of
the sound exist as well:  Cape Scott Provincial Park, Strathcona
Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park are protected examples; the
Brooks Peninsula (if I remember the name correctly) is another area.

The Island happens to be a great area to practice forestry--  some of the
most highly productive forest land in B.C., and relatively easily
accessible due to reasonable, but not flat, topography.  Come back to your
home province, X, and drive some of the highways on the Island.  Since
logging built those roads and provided the access, you will see much
active forestry everywhere you travel.  You will see climax forest, you
will see old forest, you will see second growth or managed forest, and you
will see in practice the industry that generates the largest proportion of
the wealth in this province!

>Sound familiar? It should. People on the two coasts aren't all that much
>different. I remain unconvinced that, in the long haul, Clayoquot sound
>isn't going to end up as a west coast "blueberry patch".
The Fraser Valley is a good example of forest _conversion_; there are many
blueberry (and cranberry, and raspberry) patches there!  This was
extremely productive forest land that has found better use as agricultural
land.  Parts of Vancouver Island have been converted to this use, but
Clayoquot Sound will not be one of them as the topography is unsuitable.
Second growth (or "managed") forests are now being harvested ion B.C.
Come see them-- they are excellent proof of the success forestry can be.

>*  Larry Hale                                             *
>*    Biology Dept., Univ. of Prince Edward Island         *
>*    Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada                        *



--
Robert Froese  VE7MOQ
taganov biogeocoenose approach                  "Clearcutting is not a Crime"
taganov@unixg.ubc.ca