Uncontrolled BC Logging Destroys Pine-Beetle Study Control Site

[hatrack]

THE PROVINCE I Logging of pine beetle infested forests in the B.C. Interior is so rampant that one researcher had part of her study area mysteriously wiped out -- and still doesn't know who did it. Ann Chan-McLeod, a research associate at the University of B.C. who specializes in the impact of altered landscapes on wildlife, said she requires a control area of undisturbed lodgepole pine forest against which the impacts of altered landscapes can be compared.

She was more than a little dismayed when she returned to one such control area for her pine beetle study southwest of Prince George to find it had been logged. "In a good study, you need a control," she explained in an interview. "I try to get areas that have some permanence because I want to be doing this for a little while. But I go there in the spring and it's gone. Nobody even knew about it."

Chan-McLeod had asked the major timber company operating in the area, Canfor, to leave the site alone. Canfor denied doing the cutting, which shifted the suspicion to any number of small-scale salvage operators, who are permitted by the provincial forests ministry to take up to 2,000 cubic metres of wood, areas typically smaller than 15 hectares. Chan-McLeod doesn't know to this day who cut her control area. And while she's managed to salvage her study through another control area left unscathed, the incident highlights just how challenging her job has become amidst the frenzy of logging activity in pine beetle country.

"It's difficult," she confirmed. "I understand salvage operators have quite a bit of free licence." The province has increased the annual allowable cut by 13.7 million cubic metres to 81.9 million cubic metres to combat the beetle and harvest as much timber as possible while it's merchantable. The size of clearcuts has been increased to hundreds of hectares from 60 hectares in the northern Interior under the Forest Practices Code.

EDIT

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=0688eec2-efed-44d0-b066-8563cc2ef2d8

[HereSince1628]

1. Did I miss it or is there no indication the study area was marked?

[Dead_Parrot]

2. No trees, no problem, I guess... nt

[Oerdin]

3. Sadly.

The city council here in San Diego seems to be endorsing this "no trees, no problem" mentality. The area I live in is called Scripps Ranch and it is known for it's dense ecalyptus forests. The trees are not native but they've been a staple of the area since the local rail road company planted them in the 1880's. The rail road hoped to use them as rail road ties since the trees grow extrememly quickly yet the wood warps when it dries so it was no good for the rail roads. Luckily, we were left with large tracks of 100 year old trees as a result.

Unfortunately, the Cedar Fire which burned two years ago changed much of this. An illegal hunter started a fire 50 miles away yet the resulting fire was the largest wild fire in the history of the US and nearly 250 homes were burned down including nearly 100 in my own neighborhood. Rather then admit that 33% cuts to the city and county fire departments along with a once in 30 years drought contributed to the blaze the city has decided to cut down most of the trees on public land claiming that if there were no trees then there would be nothing to burn. Luckily, local citizens have risen up in protest and the clear cutting of trees has been stopped for now.

[Oerdin]

4. Of course.

This dumb fuck could have solved all of his problems by simply checking the county house of records to find out who owned the property then asking them when they planned on harvesting the lumber. Gee, my experiment takes 2 years but they plan on harvesting in one year. Durrr, what do I do?