TERRACE STANDARD Business Review Pickers want to save key mushroom patch Ritchie area to be logged By JEFF NAGEL MUSHROOM pickers are mobilizing to block the logging of an area near Cedarvale they say is rich in pine mush- rooms. Victoria-based picker Richard MacKie has or- ganized a petition call- ing on the forests mini- stry to halt plans by Skeena Cellulose to log the Ritchie Flats area starting this fall, He argues the area, be- tween Dorreen and Cedar- vale on the railway side of the Skeena, consists of rotting trees of little com- mercial value. “The mushrooms are so much more valuable and once they log it there will be no mushrooms,” Mac- Kie said. “It doesn’t make very much sense to me to annihilate this treasure we have.” He estimates 60 to 80 people pick in that area, usually. crossing the Skee- na River by boat. “It's a very important resource in this region,” he said. Kispiox Forest District manager Shane Berg con- firmed road construction is already underway and cut blocks have been ap- proved, with some logging to take place this fall or winter. ” SCI has however halted fall logging and road-build- MUSHROOM PICKER Richard Mackie, of Victoria, is petitioning to stop planned logging of a prime mushroom producing area near Cedarvale. ing while the provincial government makes a major ‘push to sell the company. ’ Berg said Ritchie Flats is in the Quill Creek area, about 20 kilonietres down- river from Kitwanga. He said the company has advertised its logging plans a number of times. “This particular area has been identified withinitichance to talk about land- cficus ced Skeena’s harvest plan since 1998,” he said. “No particular group or individ- ual came forward and said cutting this block is going to damage my livelihood.” Three Gitxsan heredi- tary chiefs did identify the area as a productive mush- -room zone, he said, but added they asked only to ‘“be kept informed. - “Sometimes people ‘aren't aware of it until | they see the ribbon on the ‘trees and the: equipment rolling down the road,” Berg said. Locals also had a use in that area in the re- cently concluded Kispiox land and resource manage- ment plan, he added, That Ritchie Flats for “general resource management” meaning logging revenues has designated — Misty Isles Wood Trade Show Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. 3rd Annual Value-added Wood Trade Show! _ September 15* & 16" . Sandspit Airport If you appreciate the beauty and potential of wood, then came to the Islands and celebrate with our local woodworkers, artleans and value-added | manufacturers! For show, travel or accommodation Information contact: Halda Gwaii Community Futures Toll Free: 1-288-328-5594 e e ee 1 Receive a Fuji auto focus camera*® FREE when you hook your winter holiday at Elan. *Retail value $80 (Booking s must be wih an Elan Travel ya holiday or cruise company andh ave a cost of $1,000 or more per person.) Seniors save with the Elan Senior's Travel Club! Join the Elan Travel Senior's Club and save money when you travel: « 5% Reduction with select holiday and cruise companies © 50% Off all pracessing fees @ Discounts on Elon Tours * Lots more benefits Each new member will receive a useful fanny pack FREE! ‘nemberhip fee is waived ity your fi first Plus, sign up by | October 31st and enter our draw for a trip for two to Vancouver, | Terrace: 4589 L Lk Kitimat: a3 are to be maximized there with no special measures taken to protect mush-_ roams ar other values. Parts of the stands will likely be left as patches of trees, and efforts will be made to target those pat- ches: to the most produc- . tive mushroom areas, he ‘said. SCI may listen to ap- peals. to. further adjust the ‘plans there, he said, but added wholesale changes are unlikely. ‘Tt will likely be a num- ber of years before logging finishes, Berg noted. He said pickers would be advised to give their opinion when. logging “plans there next come up for review ~ likely next “year - and press for changes then, MacKie said since it appears Skeena Celiulose may be permanently closed it makes even less sense to allow cutling to proceed. “Skeena Cellulose is owned by us, the people,” : he noted. Bag Races ¥ Obstacle Races ¥ Bartel Races ¥ Reverse Race ¥ Trophy Dashes nm DEMOLITION! TS. CJ A. 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