Logging Escalates in Saskatchewan
Boreal old growth Photo:Jim Butler
By Joys Dancer
Saskatchewan's Mixedwood boreal features the greatest diversity of breeding birds of any forest type in North America. Rare species in Saskatchewan's forests include 88 plants, 8 birds, and unknown numbers of insects, fungi and microorganisms. But industry is converting the forest into even aged blocks with maximum age of about 60 years. This will eliminate numerous species which rely on the complex structures provided by old growth.
The three forestry companies which hold FMLA tenure for most of the "commercial forest zone" in Saskatchewan's boreal are all planning expansions when the prices of lumber, pulp and OSB recover. In the west, Mistik Management plans a sawmill expansion. (Misitik also supplies a CTMP pulp mill near Meadow Lake.) In the centre of the province Weyerhaeuser plans to increase the capacity of its pulp mill, paper mill, and sawmill. To the east, SakforMacMillan, a 50/50 partnership of a Saskatchewan crown corporation and MacMillan Bloedel, plans to assume management of the area currently supplying a plywood plant, stud mill, and an existing and proposed OSB plant. An unbiased federal review of the new Saskfor-Macmillan OSB plant is essential considering its cumulative impacts with existing facilities in Saskatchewan, and Louisiana Pacific's recently constructed OSB plant across the border in Swan River, Manitoba.
Great Blue Heron Photo:Edgar T. Jones
In 1992-93 The Protectors of Mother Earth held a year and a half long blockade protesting Mistik's Management's clear-cutting of their traditional territories. Mistik has responded by funding co-management boards in northern communities. To date these boards have mostly reviewed cutting plans and received 50 cents per cubic meter for cut timber, although one board has declared a five-year moratorium on cutting in their area. There is increasing demand for more public involvement in all stages of management, and for the inclusions of more central communities.
The Dore/Smoothstone Lakes Wilderness Protection Association is working to protect one of the few large areas of relatively untouched boreal forest in Saskatchewan.
The Dore/Smoothstone Lakes Wilderness Protection is working to protect one of the few large areas of relatively untouched boreal forest in Saskatchewan. This 550,000 ha. Region north of Big River includes Dore, Smoothstone, Sled, Emmeline, and Beaure Lakes, and Lac la Plonge. The trees here are typically 80 years or older. The diverse growth patterns and combinations of plants growing under the mixed tree canopy are one of the wonders of this ecosystem.
Bald Eagle Photo:Edgar T. Jones
The soils in the Dore/Smoothstone area are very fragile - in places only a one to three inch layer of organic material covers glacial till as fine as baby powder. If the organic layer is stripped during clear cutting, forests can all too easily be changed to desert.
In addition to the incredible variety of bird species, this forest is home to moose, woodland caribou, white-tailed deer, elk, bear, wolverine, beaver, mink, muskrat, and many other small mammals. The diversity of fish species is also high, including most of the species found in Saskatchewan.
In response to public concerns, in early 1995, approval of logging and road building in a portion of the Dore/ Smoothstone area was delayed. Nonetheless logging activity continued in the area. Since early winter, 1996, Weyerhaeuser has been 'salvage logging' areas burned last summer. Although only fire-killed trees are supposed to be cut, live trees have also been harvested. Cuts extend right to the edge of Dore Lake, in contravention of normal buffer requirements.
Landing at clearcut near Beaupre Creek (Dore/Smoothstone) Photo:Bruce Slusar
The Dore - Smoothstone Lakes Wilderness Protection Association calls for the designation of the Dore - Smoothstone Wilderness as a protected area. Traditional land uses like trapping, commercial fishing, ecotourism and individual tree selection logging would be acceptable , but clear cut logging and other large scale industrial activities must be halted. Dore - Smoothstone is the finest and last sizeable piece of boreal mixedwood forest left in Saskatchewan. Some parts of the proposed protected area have already been destroyed; let's save the rest before its too late.
Joys Dancer: Saskatchewan Forest Conservation, Network & Barb Handbridge: Dore/ Smoothstone Lakes Wilderness Protection Association/Saskatoon.
