Protected Area Strategy process to decide the fate of remaining local wilderness
Ancient temperate rainforest of Boise Valley.
When the NDP government was first elected in 1991 they announced their commitment to double the size of BC's provincial park system from 6% to 12% of BC's total land area by the year 2000. To accomplish this goal the BC government set in motion the Protected Areas Strategy process (PAS). PAS was to conduct an ecologically based search for new parks that would not only increase the size of our park system, but also add ecosystems currently under represented in today's system.
The Pinecone/Burke Study Area is an outstanding park candidate! Here are some of the reasons why.
The Pinecone/Burke area has the:
The first area chosen in the Lower Mainland for study was Vancouver's Backyard Wilderness, which the BC government named the Pinecone/Burke Study Area. They chose to study this area not only because of its outstanding park qualities but also because of industry's pressure to log the Boise Valley, the last major valley-bottom oldgrowth forest within the region suitable for park protection. The 38,000 hectare study area derives its name from Pinecone Lake, a large alpine lake located in the northern portion of the study area and Burke Mountain, a forested plateau located in the southern portion.
For over one year, a sixteen member government appointed study team has been collecting information on the Pinecone/Burke Study Area. The Study Team was chosen by the BC government in early 1993 to represent the many interests competing for the oldgrowth forests. There are representatives of the provincial government, local government, First Nations, timber companies, environmental organizations (Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Burke Mountain Naturalists and the Federation of BC Mountain Clubs have one representative each), fisheries workers, and forestry workers.
Failing to reach consensus, the Study Team developed a number of options to present to the public for comment at the February 15 and 16 public meetings in Vancouver, Coquitlam, Squamish and Chilliwack. Some of these options are supported by the timber industry and IWA. These options do not include protection of the Boise Valley. Other options include the protection of the entire study area as well as additional areas bordering it. These options are supported by the environmental groups and fisheries workers.
For all those who care about this area, it is vital that you attend at least one of the February 15 & 16 meetings to register your opinion in person and that you write Premier Harcourt to tell him how you feel about Vancouver's Backyard Wilderness.
After the public has had a chance to comment on the options, a final report including options and comments will be forwarded to the B.C. Cabinet in March of 1994 for a decision as to whether to grant park protection for all or part of Vancouver's Backyard Wilderness.
