Scientific Panel Forestry could become world class model
The ecosystem-based model for forest management as recommended by the 19-member Clayoquot
Scientific Panel and adopted by the B.C. government in July of 1995 has yet to be fully
implemented. But, assuming the full vision of the Panel is put into practice, it will mean
that logging in Clayoquot will truly set a new global standard.
The "world class" principles of Scientific Panel forestry include:
Maintaining the natural integrity of watersheds and productivity of aquatic environments.
Maintaining biological diversity including climax forest stands and viable populations
of all indigenous species.
Using watersheds as the basic units for planning and management.
Conducting full inventories and protecting forest values prior to planning for logging,
including protecting areas and sites of significance to First Nations people and creating
reserves to protect scenic, recreational and tourism values.
Placing all pristine watersheds over 200 hectares in size under moratorium until all
inventories in them are complete.
Making planning area-based rather than volume-based. This means that annual volumes of
timber to be cut are determined after analysis of resources and development of area-based plans.
Eliminating conventional clearcutting and replacing it with variable retention logging.
Logging no more than 5 percent of any watershed over 500 hectares during any five year period.
Retaining 70 percent of oldgrowth forest characteristics in all sensitive sites.
