Refuse to accept the B.C. government's "clearcut Clayoquot" decision
Pristine Clayoquot Valley, inset Kennedy clearcuts near trailhead Photo: Joe Foy
On April 13, 1993 the B.C. provincial government announced that two-thirds of Clayoquot Sound would be clearcut logged. This decision provoked a huge public outcry that continues to grow despite the best efforts of industry and government to sell the decision as a "balanced compromise".
Compare the already logging-scarred landscapes-now about 25 percent of the Sound-with the beauty of Clayoquot's remaining ancient rainforests. You don't have to be an expert to realize that clearcut logging, no matter how carefully done, ruins pristine salmon streams, destroys breath-taking vistas and reduces natural biodiversity.
The Clayoquot Sound First Nations, 43 percent of the Sound's permanent residents, oppose the government's "clearcut Clayoquot" decision. Experiencing over 70 percent unemployment, they want a solution that both preserves their natural environment and provides fishing, mariculture and eco-tourism jobs forever.
Preserving the 7,679 ha Clayoquot Valley, one of only 9 large (over 5,000 ha) watersheds still left unlogged on Vancouver Island, is a first step!
