Say no to private clearcuts in the Columbia Valley | Wildsight

Columbia Lake residents are in an uproar at a proposed logging operation on private land that threatened their drinking water source. Because of very weak private land logging regulations, there is little local government can do to protect this water source from logging.

This time, the landowner is willing to work with concerned local residents, Wildsight, and the Regional District to protect the water source, but next time we might not be so lucky.

Please speak up for much-needed changes to the Private Managed Forest Lands Act today.

The lack of regulations for private land logging has shifted the burden to communities, forcing British Columbians to pay the price for lax provincial rules that let big companies claim tax breaks while clearcutting vast areas. Water, wildlife, and community recreation suffer in community after community when private land logging destroys forests. The Union of BC Municipalities has passed 15 resolutions dating back to 1991 asking the province to fix private land logging regulations, yet no real action has been taken.

Tell Forests Minister Katrine Conroy that the Private Managed Forest Lands Act needs to be fixed today to stop private clearcuts and protect our communities.

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To: BC Minister of Forests Katrine Conroy
cc: Premier John Horgan
Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston
Doug Clovechok, MLA Columbia River-Revelstoke
Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands
John Rustad, Opposition Critic for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

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Dear Minister Conroy,
cc: Hon. John Horgan, Premier,
Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston,
Doug Clovechok, MLA Columbia River-Revelstoke,
Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston,
John Rustad, Opposition Critic for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

I’m writing to request that you take immediate action to reform the Private Managed Forest Land Act.
 
The lack of regulations for private land logging has shifted the burden to communities, forcing British Columbians to pay the price for lax provincial rules that let big companies claim tax breaks after clearcutting vast areas. Water, wildlife, and community recreation suffer in community after community when private land logging destroys forests. The Union of BC Municipalities has passed 15 resolutions dating back to 1991 asking the province to reform private land logging regulations, yet to date, no real action has been taken.

Columbia Lake residents are in an uproar over a proposed logging operation on private land that threatened their drinking water source. There is little local government can do to protect this water source from logging.

The Private Managed Forest Land Act has no requirement for forest harvesting to be sustainable and no limit on cut for landowners; short-term gain is prioritized over long-term sustainability. Environmental protections are lacking, with minimal stream and water protections and no requirements to maintain wildlife habitat. Landowners are not required to consider downstream values or to consult with affected residents, communities, and local government. We need stream and water protections, and requirements to maintain biodiversity such as old growth and wildlife habitat.

Communities should not have to face the impact from weak provincial regulations. Across BC, communities are having to defend their water sources from private clearcuts. Private managed forest logging plans should be subject to a public consultation process.

Thank you for taking my concerns seriously.

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