TOUGH QUESTIONS AND HONEST ANSWERS
Q.
Is the Caren not part of the working forest? Protectionists like you are
costing industry valuable land which will mean lost jobs and forest workers
being laid off.
A.
The Ministry of Forests admits that its own watershed guidelines have been
exceeded and that the District has been overcut by 30%. The issue is not
whether to log the few remaining wild areas or lose jobs. The real question is,
do we want to have any wild places left, and a local forest industry that is
committed to the long term health and employment opportunities of this area, or
more of the same?
Q.
Why do you need to protect the Caren when similar values are already found in
Garibaldi and Cypress Bowl Provincial Parks?
A.
Are these forests the same? Sechelt Peninsula is an island, ecologically
speaking. Forests of the Caren range are older than those in Garibaldi and
Cypress Bowl. They also offer to the growing population on the Sunshine Coast
the opportunity of excellent recreation as an extension of the North Shore parks
system.
Q.
When will we see enough area protected on the Sunshine Coast? Different groups
want different areas... first the Tetrahedron, now the Caren. Will it ever stop?
A.
Yes, there is a limit to areas needing protection but it has not been reached
yet. There are no sizeable areas of protected wilderness on the Sunshine Coast.
The Tetrahedron and Caren proposals are steps towards correcting this gross
imbalance.
Q.
Why not "multiple-use" on the Sunshine Coast?
A.
True "multiple-use" ensures the protection of adequate amounts of ancient
forests at all elevations and forest types as benchmarks and genetic reservoirs.
It is not known if logged over lands will ever recover to the same level of
genetic diversity as ancient forests.
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION WITH
0% WILDERNESS PROTECTED ON THE SUNSHINE COAST
AND MUCH OF IT THREATENED BY LOGGING, WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET ON WITH
PROTECTIING A REASONABLE AMOUNT?
A.
The Ministry of Forests must immediately place a five year deferral on logging
and other extractive industries in the proposed Caren Range Upland Park. During
that time, it should be extensively studied. The people of the Sunshine Coast,
and perhaps of the province as a whole should determine the best treatment of
the area.
