Immediately Remove Central Walbran Valley from the Provincial Tree Farm Licensing System
The central Walbran valley (Kaxi:ks or \'Big River\') is a rare and ecologically significant 485 hectare tract of ancient temperate rainforest on unceded Pacheedaht territory, on south-western Vancouver Island.
This irreplaceable and magnificent rainforest contains some of the largest remaining 800 - 1000 year-old Western red cedar trees in existence, stunning waterfalls, emerald pools surrounded by unique limestone karst formations, a volunteer-built network of boardwalk trails and critical habitats for threatened species such as the Marbled Murrelet and Northern Goshawk.
As part of the last unlogged 6.5% of biologically abundant low-elevation old-growth rainforest left on the island, it is a mere four-hour drive from Greater Victoria. Given its extraordinary biodiversity over 10,000 years in the making, its critical role as a carbon sink helping to mitigate against climate breakdown and its outstanding scientific, recreational and spiritual opportunities, Kaxi:ks is far more valuable left intact than as timber for short-term corporate profit.
We, the undersigned, call on the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to immediately remove the Central Walbran Valley / Kaxi:ks from the provincial Tree Farm Licensing system (TFL 46) and suspend all permits relating to logging activity, as an interim measure, pending discussions with the Pacheedaht Nation and the scientific community on conservation options for this critically endangered old growth rainforest.
This irreplaceable and magnificent rainforest contains some of the largest remaining 800 - 1000 year-old Western red cedar trees in existence, stunning waterfalls, emerald pools surrounded by unique limestone karst formations, a volunteer-built network of boardwalk trails and critical habitats for threatened species such as the Marbled Murrelet and Northern Goshawk.
As part of the last unlogged 6.5% of biologically abundant low-elevation old-growth rainforest left on the island, it is a mere four-hour drive from Greater Victoria. Given its extraordinary biodiversity over 10,000 years in the making, its critical role as a carbon sink helping to mitigate against climate breakdown and its outstanding scientific, recreational and spiritual opportunities, Kaxi:ks is far more valuable left intact than as timber for short-term corporate profit.
We, the undersigned, call on the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to immediately remove the Central Walbran Valley / Kaxi:ks from the provincial Tree Farm Licensing system (TFL 46) and suspend all permits relating to logging activity, as an interim measure, pending discussions with the Pacheedaht Nation and the scientific community on conservation options for this critically endangered old growth rainforest.
2,470 signatures