Flores Island
Megin Lake
Clayoquot Sound a Priceless Heritage
Time to Manage with loving care
Chainsaws haven't cut down every original rainforest in Clayoquot Sound. Large unlogged areas exist, shaded green on the map above, more than remain elsewhere on Vancouver Island. The Sound remained essentially untouched while less isolated and remote areas were being logged out.
But without exception these uncut ancient forests are condemned. Years ago they were committed to multi-national corporations without any consultation with Clayoquot's local residents. Provincial Government's gave away the priceless natural heritage in exchange for a false promise of economic stability. The gift was made under a now outmoded ethical principal that regarded the cutting of old growth forests and consuming their wealth-to be the highest social good. This ethic ignored the effect of rapid deforestation on other resources, including a human resource, the local residents.
1) Megin River
2) Meares Island
Unless democratic action changes the situation, in less than two decades these corporations will wastefully clear cut log all the valleys and mountainsides in Clayoquot Sound. The harm this will cause is already evident. Adjacent logged out valleys are racked with erosion; theirs choked with logging debris, run brown with their mountainsides soil every hard winter rain.
If you suppress the thought that the untouched areas are doomed, and take the time to visit at least one of you will experience the ultimate peaceful feeling of being part of a timeless natural panorama. You will be blessed with views of God-grown forested mountainsides unbroken by large scabs of patchy clear-cut. Your lungs will drink the purest air remaining on Earth refreshed on its journey across the mighty Pacific. Your soul will taste nature's perfect liquid, fresh water, filter through mosses of the thick rainforest, oxygenated in splashing of clean mountain brooks. You'll hear tranquility.
Entrance to Megin Lake
1) Clearcuts showing erosion in Clayoquot Sound
2) Ruined creek near Hesquiat Lake
Beach near Kanim Lake
As these beautiful forests disappear, one by one, as roads advance and logging trucks haul the giant trees away, that which remains becomes more valuable. Meares is just the first battle to save outstanding areas in Clayoquot Sound.
It is time for change. The rate of deforestation must be reduced. Control of logging decisions must again reside with the local residents who live with the results. Herbicide and pesticide poisons must be eliminated. Slash burning must be phased out. Logged areas must immediately be planted and young trees tended during their youth. Locally controlled, small scale "true" tree farms must replace existing giant so-called tree farms with absentee landlords. Extremely sensitive and beautiful places like Flores Island and the Megin Watershed must have special protection.
Environmentalists don't want to stop all logging - they only want a tiny percentage stopped. At least 5% of the natural forests that once covered B.C. must be saved. Only 2% are protected today. Good management on the 95% reserved for logging makes it affordable.
