MORE THAN a year and half after an increased cut was announced for the Cassiar, about one third of the available timber has been apportioned. But critics question the move, saying it undermines a community-based land management plan currently under way. Forests Minister. David. Zirhelt. recently announced that 135,000 cubic metres of the Cassiar Timber Supply Area’s annual cut has been officially divided up in prepara- tion for sale. The ‘annual cut determination, made in November 1995, sparked controversy with a variety of groups. They expressed con- cerns thal industrial logging will move into the huge, undeveloped wilderness of the Cassiar with little benefit to local residents. Other concerns were expressed about the effect of logging on the slow-growing boreal forest and the wildlife it sustains, Although the to- tal annual allow- able cut for the Cassiar is 400,000 cubic metres, half that amount is being held in f reserve until land ee use plans are com- David Zirnhelt plete. While the apportionment decisions announced last week open the door to logging, they take a cautious approach and seek to jump start local forest ventures, said Guenter Stahl], manager of ‘the Bulkley-Cassiar Forest District. . The tenures are short-term and relatively small, he said, because it’s uncertain what will happen in the future. “We're not making any long term commit- ments that would create a problem,’ Stahl said. ‘We're not talking about developing and ac- cessing major areas and large-scale develop- ment. We're not-encouraging the development of major sawmills in the area that would aitract people moving in.”’ The available timber has been divvied up over supply blocks within the TSA: Mi most Wood will be up for grabs in the Iskut- Boundary supply block, basically the area from Dease Lake south, making up roughly half the TSAL A total of ‘40,000 cubic ‘metres will be. ‘offered’ in the Valuezadded small business forest ciiter- prise program. The only wood available directly , “We're not making any long term commitments that would create a prob- lem. We're not talking about develop- ing and accessing major areas and large-scale development’? —Guenter Stahi— ; to larger operators is 78,800 cubic metres in non-replaceable forest licences. Another 1,200 cubic metres has been earmarked for the forest service reserve for future considcralion. BB in the Adin supply block, 2,500 cubic metres has been apportioned to the small busi- ness program and another 12,500 cubic metres ‘to the forest service reserve, La RE EE we ree The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 10, 1997 - A5 Cutting up the Cassiar Forests ministry looks to boost local ventures THE CASSIAR Timber Supply A Area is being d divwied up for logging. While foresters argue the cuts will be small and benefit the local economy, critics argue logging the s'ow-growing northern forests could be detrimental to tourism. They also question the timing of the al- location of wood, since the community-based land management plan just started. ‘: ithere’s been no apportionment at all in the . , Dease:Lintd aréa, home to the Kaska-Dene. The announcement comes as a Land and Resource Management Plan gets under way for the southern portion of the TSA, That bas at least one observer wondering why the decision came now. “IT don’t understand why the minister is rsh- ing to apportion before the LRMP can discuss the issue,’’ said Monty Bassetl, an outspoken critic of introducing industrial logging into the Cassiar, and director-producer of Cossiar at the Crossroads, with David Suzuki. ‘Phere is no more critical decision facing the LRMP than apportionment, and if it is denied to (hem, then everything -else is mere window dressing, and the role. of the local planning board is to rubber-stamp the dictates of the forest service.”’ The LRMP isn't scheduled to finish its work until April, 1999. Bassett said the decision also undermines the “CASSIAR TIMBER SUPPLY. AREA: Apportionments were an- nounced for three supply blocks in the Cassiar: Boundary and Iskut (5 and 6) and Atlin (2) ‘The Dease-Liard (3) remains unapportioned pending further consultation and the Kechika (4) contains negligible amounts of timber.” The Alsek (1) is a propased park. Hwy 37 Meziadin Junction enviroument ministry’s research ‘into wildlife habitat requirements, Lee ‘Tn truth, forestry is a third rate player (in the Cassiar) behind wilderness recreation and mini- ng, yet they are continually trying to assume the role of Alpha wolf,’ Bassett said. The forest service says much planning and consullation has to happen before any trees will fall. A deferral strategy has been adopted that would postpone logging in certain areas pend- ing completion of the LRMP. A similar ap- “In truth, forestry is a third rate player (in the Cassiar) behind wilder- ness recreation and mining, yet they are continually trying to assume the role of Alpha wolf”’ —Monty Bassett— proach was taken for the Bulkley LRMP, Stahl pointed ont, i The earliest any tenure could be advertised is early this winter, the manager said. ‘‘The ab- solute soonest would be November, and that’s just a guess,” While operating areas have yet to be decided, ihe apportionment does give broad direction as to what wood can be cut and how it will be awarded. Stahl said the ministry is trying to encourage some value-added manufacturing. One proposal thal’s surfaced would invelve a primary breakdown of logs in the Cassiar area into cants, which would be hauled to Stewart (outside the Cassiar TSA) and remanufactured into value-added products for shipment to Asia. But il’s ultimately up to a private business to respond with an acceptable proposal. “We've had people suggest to us thal they would like to do this,’’ Stahl said. “All we can do is make the opportunity avail- able and sec Whal happens,” STEWART. MAY be the location of a new value- added business, using tim- ber from the Cassiar Timber Supply. . Officials with the forests ininistry met yesterday in Is- kut-to discuss the situation with potential value-added proponents, the Tahitan and ‘other interested parties. “Last summer the chief forester set the annual al lowable cut for the arca,”’ says Kalum ‘forest district manager. Brian Downie. “This summer the minister . gave us direction as to the type of tenures we should be looking at.’” ‘That. direction included 40, 000 cubic metres of wood dedicated to valuc- added businesses. - And that wood could be a nice break for Stewart. “Stewart is the logical port and destination for value-added facility there.” But exactly what that value-added business will be is still up in the air. "We've had three dif- ferent parties come to our ‘Stewart is the logical port and destination for wood from the Cassiar. The location is well- suited for the project. I’m sure there’s an inter- est in developing a value-added facility there”’ —Brian Downie— wood from the .Cassiar,’’ saye Downie, ‘‘The location is well-suited -for:.the: pro- ject, I’m pretty sure there’s an interest in developing a office with Ideas, and others probably visited. our office in Smithers,” says Downle. “But we: don’ | have any specifics yet." Downie says yesterday's meeting should have helped clear up some of the proponent’s questions about what species of trees are in- volved and what their quali- ty is like. The Forest Service has yel jo determine how the timber will be put.on the market. Downie also says some of the people living in the Cas- siar, like the Tallian, will likely get involved in the project. ‘Another thing we want to do is help build rela- | tionships,”’ he says, “We want {o get the proponents logether with some of* the people who live in. the area.” Brian Downie een CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Control ministry staff Dear Sir: Aa open letter to Jim Yardley, regional director of the ministry of environment, lands and parks. In regard to the Aug. 27 Terrace Standard ariicle, it is quite apparent that the ministry is in even more dis- array than B.C, Wildlife Federation members thought it was. This is a well-orchestrated anti-hunting campaign in- itiated by one of your own staff. It is so completely inaccurate that I cannot begin to think that it is sanctioned by the ministry of environ- ment, lands and parks. . it.s your job, I believe, to make sure your staff are on the sume pape, Jim. Ts this not an obvious breach of proicssional conduct, is there not a code of conduct within MELP? You have an employce who is spreading misinforma- tion, slaudering his own employer, and getting paid for it. Did he also write the report on governinent time? Please address these questions! The BCWF members in this area expect a retraclion on this. [f not from De Leeuw, il should come from you. Grizzly bear hunting is a very stricily controlled activity, itis an approved management tool, and grizzly numbers where studied in depth have indicated higher than expected populations that estimated by habitat models. The anti-hunting lobby does not need any belp from employees of your ministry with an axe to grind. The so-called panel of scientists appointed by MELP has been very successful in the recruitment of anti-huniers onto the panel, while excluding anyone perceived to be tolerant of any bear hunting. Perhaps this issue could also be addressed. Mike O'Neill B.C. Wildlife Federation northwest region president Editor's note: Mr. de Leeuw wrote the report in question on his own time. Sex revolution gone mad Dear Sir: “War is bell,’? said General Sherman. And so is the propaganda war directed against our children and others susceptible to artful and brazen lying. The recent controversy over the teaching of our chil- dren in public schools that deviant sexual gratification is a perfectly normal activity has caused many to say, “Now they’ve gone too far.”’ In reaction, a few parents will home school their chil- dren; others will wage political warfare but un- fortunately, in the end, most will probably acquiesce to another victory of lhe sexual revolutionists. The violent warfare of the American, French, Protestant, and Communist revolutions though tragic in terms of lives lost are eclipsed by the worldwide upheavals of the 1960’s —. Vatican I] wilh the sub- ~ sequent breakdown of morality...» Since then: the followitg basic™truths’ Perec have been suppressed: 1) sex belongs exclusively to marriage Which consists of one husband, one wife dur- ing one lifetime sustained by the graces of the sacra- ment of matrimony; 2) children are always a bicssing of God and should be welcomed without hindrance since they are the primary reason for marriage. These principles, once nearly universal in the world, are now held by only a scattered remnant among whom will not be found such icons as John Paul II and Mother Theresa. As for those individuals of the formerly respected professions such as bishops, politicians, teachers, jour- nalists, public health nurses, and others who would in- culcate our children with knowledge of sexual practices previously known only to bawdy house-keepers, millstones awail. To them applies the Spanish epithet, ‘‘sin verguensa’’ — without shame. 2M ens nee ate ony Fak Tom Brophy Terrace, B.C. Question for MLA Dear Sir: A question in reply to last week’s question by Skcena MLA Helmut Giesbrecht. ‘What other human being qualifies’? to expose a need requires a defined purpose to make a judgment true. The question of sin only arises when you are free of sin. Other human beings qualify when there is a need. George Halpert Terrace, B.C. Kindnéss still exists Dear Sir: I would like to give a large heartfelt thank-you to the businesses of Terrace, I was visiting my sister In Terrace and parked by car McDonalds with the car running on a swelteringly hot day in August. My 10-month-old baby, was in his car seat in the back. I got out to climb into the back with him and in- advertently locked the car — with him in it. A mother’s nightmare! With my heart in my mouth, I ran into McDanalds’s and phoned the first locksmith I found in the phone book. They were there within minutes (it seemed like an ctemity to a panicky mother with a stressed baby), had him’ out in seconds, and didn’t charge me — just said that he figured this was definitely a real emer- gency. . Due to this man’s kindness, this incident wil] always remain in my heart as an emergency with a happy ending and mark Terrace in my mind as a town with caring people ready to help a stranger in trouble, This locksmith is an example of the inherent kindness that still exists, and we sometimes fail to notice in our busy world. Thank you so much, Margaret Bose-Johnson and baby Andreas Stony Plain, Alberta Letters welcome The Terrace Standard walcames letters to the editor. Our malling address is 3210 Clinton St., Terrace, B.C., V8G SR2. You can also fax us at 250-638-8432, And you can send an e-mail letter to us at standard@kermode.net Ee ae: