Example of Clearcut logging in Wood Buffalo National Park. Photo credit: J. Benner
Save Wood Buffalo Park … For the Wood Buffalo
"Over the last fifty years, the federal government has allocated the rights to log significant areas of timber on our traditional lands without concern for wildlife habitat, or impact on trapping, or other traditional uses. THIS AREA LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE. OUR FORESTS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED."
- Chief Sewepagaham, Little Red River Cree Tribe
No Excuse for Park Logging
The 49,700 hectare area that is currently held as a “timber berth” inside Wood Buffalo National Park is dubbed the “Carmanah of the North” because of the enormous size of some of the trees in the area. There are white spruce that are several hundred years old, more than 4 feet in diameter and over 125 feet tall; true giants of the north.
With rights to 98 percent of the harvestable timber in the park, Daishowa and its contractors have already cut down more than 60 percent of it. Only 400 hectares of “class 5”, the largest and most spectacular white spruce, remain standing in the park.
Buffalo
"If Wood Buffalo Park is not protected what will happen to other national parks?"
“They are basically liquidating the forest up there as far as I can tell,” said Con Dermott, of timber management for the Alberta Forest Service. The federal government has permitted Daishowa to take up to 98 percent of the harvestable timber in the National Park, while the province allows about 40 percent in a cut block to ensure that lakes, stream sides, wildlife habitat and recreation areas are protected.
"They are basically liquidating the forest as far as I can tell."
Con Dermott, Director Timber Management, Alberta Forest Service
There is no excuse for the current government in Ottawa to allow logging in Wood Buffalo National Park to continue. If Wood Buffalo Park is not protected what will happen to other national parks? Most National Parks, like Wood Buffalo, were created for the conservation of wildlife habitat and to provide recreation before the age of ecology and environmentalism. Now with our understanding of how important they are in preserving biodiversity, the need to protect parks is more crucial than ever. Please help us convince our federal government to save our international treasure—Wood Buffalo National Park and to respect the rights of the Little Red River Cree Tribe who presently use, and whose ancestors used for generations, the park region sustainably.
