DEMONSTRATION FOREST'S LOGGING AGENDA WELL HIDDEN
The agenda of the Seymour Demonstration forest managers is to log the area, including its remaining world-class giant trees. But you would never know this from reading their brochures which stress nature walks, educational talks on native plant use, a butterfly garden, fisheries enhancement and other activities normally associated with a park.
Nary a mention is made of the prime purpose of the Seymour Demonstration Forest; to demonstrate active logging. In 1993, when environmentalists discovered that some of the best oldgrowth trees were targeted for logging, they created a public outcry that forced the plans to be scrapped. Since then, little logging has taken place. But in the spring of 1997, the Demonstration Forest managers again presented an aggressive logging plan, the 1995 Bell-Irving Report, which was rejected by the GVRD Board two years ago.
If given the chance to express their opinion there is little doubt that people would vote to have an Ancient Groves Park which preserves the Seymour's magnificent trees and not to have just another place where ancient trees are felled and the forest "managed" for "multiple use".
Park status would permit many uses except for industrial logging activities.
Over one-quarter of a million people a year use the Seymour Valley off-catchment lands today, including mountain bikers, roller bladers, hikers, movie makers and Sunday strollers. The proposed Seymour Ancient Groves Park would enhance, not curtail, these park-compatible activities.
But the chain saws, bulldozers and trucks of industrial logging would be banned...so that they no longer threaten the peace, sanctity and future of the Seymour's ancient trees and thriving wild forests.
