The proposed 500,000 Stoltmann Wilderness is three and a half hours north of Vancouver. Western Red cedar and Douglas fir have been growing here for over a thousand years, but Interfor (International Forest Products) is committed to removing these ancient trees by any means necessary -- including intimidation and violence. Read more to find out about the struggle to preserve this special place.

Save the Stoltmann Wilderness and its 1000-year-old trees

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.19 - No.03, Fall 2000

THE STORY OF THE CALLOUS DESTRUCTION OF A BEAR DENNING TREE BY INTERFOR

Nothing quite captures Interfor's callous disregard for the environment like this true story of the fate of a bear denning tree in the Stoltmann Wilderness.

In 1997 Interfor applied for and the B.C. Forest Service approved a new cutblock in the Sims Creek watershed. The cutblock included Magic Grove a spectacular stand of ancient redcedar trees that was a much-loved hiking destination. Within Magic Grove grew a massive redcedar that had a small opening at the base leading into a large hollow center. The cavity was big enough to hold ten people and had bear signs indicating that it was an active denning tree.

A concerned hiker phoned the BC Forest Service office in Squamish and told them about this tree. The Forest Service then phoned Interfor's office about the possible bear denning tree, informing the company that they would be sending up a biologist to verify the finding.

What was Interfor's reaction to this news? It immediately sent fallers into the centre of the cutblock to find and cut down the tree!

Informed the redcedar had been felled, the Forest Service told the distraught hiker that they were powerless to prosecute Interfor because the Forest Service had previously approved the cutting permit authorizing Interfor to cut down the trees in Magic Grove.

WCWC Supports International Market Campaigns

In June, 2000 Interfor terminated discussions with Greenpeace, the Sierra Club of B.C. and the Coastal Rainforest Coalition aimed at resolving the conflict over logging in B.C.'s endangered coastal rainforest. At the same time it began logging the oldgrowth habitat of species-at-risk right next to Pacific Rim National Park in Clayoquot Sound and started logging in the last remaining pristine stretch of the Elaho River---above Lava Creek---in the Stoltmann Wilderness. Then it began blasting a logging road through the habitat of the spirit bear on Princess Royal Island in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. Many environment groups have tried talking with Interfor, and it doesn't work. Interfor doesn't want to change its bully boy ways. When Interfor walked away from talks, Greenpeace, the Coastal Rainforest Coalition and the Natural Resources Defense Council launched market campaigns in the U.S. and Europe aimed at informing wood products' customers . about Interfor's intransigence. WCWC fully supports their campaign.