3 Good-News Stories for Living Powell River Trees
As we’ve just finished the holidays, and you may have had your own brightly-lit tannenbaum, know that 2016 meant a shift for some local Powell River trees.
Here are three decisions that left more Douglas-firs, Western Red Cedars, alder and spruce standing and growing around Powell River.
Home Tree, by Powell River artist Alfred Muma
1. The Province of BC says “cut less” around here
In August, the province of BC decided to harvest 250,000 cubic metres less (roughly a quarter of a million fewer mid-size trees) each year from the biggest chunk of the “working forest” around Powell River. Tree Farm License 39 (TFL 39) extends north of here and west, to Port Alberni.
While the overall cut will be less in TFL 39, the cut in Block 1 (the area of the TFL closest to Powell River) went up slightly. However, Nicholls notes that may be reviewed based on changes in First Nations interventions, and climate change.
2. Hope for the trees of Lot 450
“A legal question has been raised: Who owns the trees on what I call the ‘Sino Bright parcel’? At least one lawyer is of the opinion that because a planned harvest occurred there in 1999-2000, ownership of the remaining standing timber has reverted to the landowner – which is the PRSC.
“What bright future could be imagined were it to be legally-determined that we the people have the right to 134 acres of largely-forested land, sandwiched between Upper and Lower Millennium Park, Brooks Secondary School, and the soon-to-be-rehabilitated old incinerator site, that has legal constraints imposed upon it by virtue of being within the ALR?
“What if those trees didn’t have to come down? Imagine…” – Andrew Bryant
3. Island Timberlands leaves trees at Stillwater
“The good news in Stillwater concerns a small section of very old second-growth forest that was recently saved from logging. This section of forest surrounds Roberts Road. The canopy of large trees close off the sky for a brief moment as you pass through. Thanks to the efforts of a vocal group of local residents, and the willingness of Island Timberlands to meet with them and hear their concerns, the roadside trees will be left standing. According to Ron Smid, “[I.T.] have offered to leave the north side of the road completely as is. All the canopy trees along the south side of the road will also be spared, including a large section of the main grove that stretches approximately 100 meters into the forest along 100 meters of Roberts Rd.”
“For most people, “Stillwater” means Stillwater Bluffs, which Island Timberlands has said it has no plans to log in the immediate future.” – Jason Addy
Powell River Living Magazine
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