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Old growth forests

Old growth forests, variously
called virgin, primeval, overmature,
or decadent, have: become over the
last ten years, a source of growing

tension between forest industries and:

forest preservationists. This tension is

- Often counter-productive, with protest-

ers arrested, and industrial operations
delayed. These conflicts of interest fre-
quently involve court battles with the
resultant outcome unsatisfying for the
affected parties.

Before the advent of commercial
forest harvesting, the age of forest
stands was determined naturally by spe-
cies longevity, through disease or insect
epidemics, and by periodic forest wild-
fires, Wherever conditions were favour-
able, old growth stands developed, con-
taining individual trees which could
often survive for hundreds of years.
These stands supported ecosystems with
highly specialized flora, invertebrates,
birds and mammals, sometimes unique
to the habitat.

Old growth forests were first logged
by Europeans in the early 1600's to
build settlements and to clear land for
agriculture. As Canada became pro-
gressively colonized, her forests pro-
vided the raw material for construc-
tion. This use of forests remained

domestic until the blockage of the Bal-

tic Sea by Napoleon, depriving the
British of a highly valued wood sup-
ply needed for the construction and
maintenance of her navy. As a result
Britain tumed to Canada’s extensive
Maritime white pine forests for a secure
timber supply. Thus began Canada’s
commercial usage of the forest resource.

After three hundred years of log-
ging, Canada’s best known old growth
forests are largely restricted to British
Columbia and isolated stands scattered
throughout the other provinces, such
as the Temagami Region in Ontario.
Many of these stands are slated for
future harvest by forest companies.
As the call for old growth preserva-

tion continues, forest industries are:

being forced to defend their harvest-

ing rights obtained through long-term
agreements with provincial govern-

ments. These rights are being ques-

tioned by a growing volume of citi-
zens who often blame the forest industry
for having exclusive interests. This
blame is often misdirected, as forest
companies must comply with provin-

-Cial forest management plans.

Today’s forest industry, a myriad
of saw mills and pulp mills, is facing
a new awakening of the environmen-
tal movement. As a visibly extractive
industry, forest companies must expend

great amounts of time and effort edu- |
cating the public in the principles of -
forest management. The complexities .

of forests and their ecology are not
easily understood, thus the all too fre-
quent claim of faulty company prac-
tices. The harvest of old growth stands
does little to strengthen the industrial
standpoint.

At present there is no widely accepted
definition of old growth forests. With-

out a definition, conservation and man- —

agement for old growth characteris-
tics and values will be difficult, if not
impossible. Provincial and Federal
authorities, with consultation from all
affected parties, are only now begin-
ning to address this problem. Old
growth forests must be accepted as
part of our heritage, and representa-
tive forests reserved, before our future
alternatives are eliminated.

Old growth forests harbour a poten-
tial wealth of information concerning
the ecology and dynamics of forest
communities. In order to harness this
knowledge for the benefit of all Cana-
dians, a spirit of co-operation must

. prevail, All Canadians have a stake

in the forest’s future, and we all must
communicate and work together towards
our growing future, guided by the prin-
ciples of multiple-use and sustainable
development.

—The Canadian Forestry Association

WHEN A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST one thing it can do Is
damage young trees and seedlings that it hits on the way down.
A stand-thinning technique catled girdling results in slow death of
the tree; when it falls, it goes gently and the smaller trees have
had a chance to grow, making them less vulnerable.

The Northwest is rich in old growth forests compared to other coastal regions of B.C., where nearly
all watersheds have bean logged at least once in the past 50 years. Rarity of wildfires has allowed
forast giants like this one, being contemplated by a visitor to the marine wilderness around the
Douglas Channel, to reach hundreds of years In age. Concems about the role of temperate rain
forests in the planetary climate will undoubtedly create vigorous discussion as these old forests are
considered for logging. - -

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