Reading of the 'contempt of court' injunction on the bridge over the Walbran, 1991. Thanks to brett for the photo

Logging Tape

Photo of logging tape found in the Walbran Valley close to the Falls on 1st September 2012. Giant Red Cedars waiting in the background ready to be logged.Thanks to Jim for first spotting the tape and passing that information along. Photo by Peter

 

 

Markers stir fears of Walbran logging

 

 

By Judith Lavoie, timescolonist.com August 29, 2012

 

 

The Vancouver Island old-growth forest that, over the decades, has sparked bitter confrontations over logging is again in the spotlight after survey tape was found near a grove of massive western red cedars.

Members of the Ancient Forest Alliance found the tape in the Upper Walbran Valley, near Castle Grove, which contains the Castle Giant, a western red cedar with a five-metre diameter. The tree is listed in the provincial big tree registry as one of the widest in Canada.

“Castle Grove is ground zero for the ancient forest movement on southern Vancouver Island, both historically and today,” said Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance executive director. “To try and log it is insanity — it will only escalate the war in the woods to a whole new level,” he said.

The logging tape, marked “falling boundary,” is less than 50 metres from the Castle Giant, said Alliance campaigner TJ Watt who discovered the tape.

However, the Forests Ministry said in an emailed response to questions that no activity is planned in Castle Grove, although some logging is planned in the area further south.

“The area in question could be partly protected by the park, an old-growth management area and ungulate winter range,”

the email said. “Ministry staff were not able to confirm without better mapping information from AFA.”

Teal Jones Group of Surrey holds the licence for the area, but spokesman John Pichugin said that he could not say whether the company has applied for a cutting licence in the area until he has seen a map.

Wu, who took part in the 1991 protests that resulted in the lower half of the Walbran Valley and the Upper Carmanah Valley being added to Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park in 1995, said it is time the province came up with its promised “legal tool” to protect B.C.’s largest trees and monumental groves.

“Of all places, Castle Grove is the place where such a legal designation would make most sense. Otherwise the B.C. Liberals’ rhetoric has been as empty as a clearcut,” Wu said.

The e-mailed response from the ministry said there are legal mechanisms to provide protection to unique or special trees and all British Columbians finding special trees are encouraged to register them on the Big Trees Registry.

“The ministry continues to look at other ways that may provide stronger pro-active protection,” it said.

After the lower half of the Walbran, consisting of about 5,500 hectares, was included in the park, environmentalist continued to push for protection of the valley’s remaining 7,500 hectares.

In 2003 more protests erupted over logging in the area that resulted in the arrest of elderly environmental activist Betty Krawczyk.

jlavoie@timescolonist.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Take the 'bite' out of the Walbran.

   
       The main consensus that came out of the 2011 reunion was that we have to become more involved in keeping an eye on the valley. That we could see that the logging companies are actively working right up to the park boundaries and that we need to be aware of their future logging plans. That we need to be proactive and work to strengthen the park boundaries and to have included into the park the 'bite' that removed from any protection the heart of the Walbran.The areas which include around the bridge where the road ends, Fletcher Falls and the start of the board walk trails to 'Castle Grove', 'Maxinines tree' and Anderson lake. And all that beautiful lowland old growth rainforest, part of the last 2% that is still unprotected.

        B.C Parks also recognize the importance for these areas in their 2003 report 'Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan' it states that they should ' Work with MOF and Timberwest in Fletcher Falls and “bite” area to resolve management issues arising from blow down and access development in the area'. And that they should be aware of  'Potential adverse effects of logging adjacent to the park boundary especially in the vicinity of the“low-intensity area” in the mid-Walbran watershed'. Looks like there is also a fair bit of consensus between the Provincial Parks and the Walbran reunion.

Directions to the Walbran Valley

How to get to the Walbran Valley. be prepared this is a remote wilderness area, always drive with a usable spare tyre.

From Victoria. take Trans-Canada Highway past Duncan, past the Somenos Marsh Conservation Centre, past the BC Forest Museum. turning left going west to Cowichan Lake onto the Cowichan Valley Highway
*Drive 26 km to the town of Lake Cowichan, going left at the "Cowichan Lake" sign
* Set odometer to zero at Cowichan Lake. This is the last fuelling stop.
* Go straight through Cowichan Lake, past Mesachie Lake and Honeymoon Bay.
* At 13 km go left at the fork onto Walton Road and go past the Caycuse campsite
*At 31.9 km sign indicates Carmannah/Walbran Provincial Park to the right. BUT GO LEFT HERE, instead onto the Caycuse Mainline.
* At 40.2 km stay straight and stay off spur roads
*At 42 km go left at Blue spray-painted "W" at fork in road
* At 50 km stay left ( Do not cross bridge)
* At 55 km pass Mclure Lake
* At 58.9 km you reach the "Ballpark" and go left onto Walbran Main (Do not go up the hill to the right)
* At 62.4 km stay right ( Do not go up the hill)
* At 64.2 km reach Walbran 1100. Go STRAIGHT!
* At 71.1 km Turn right at pink ribbons down to Walbran Creek*
* At 74.4 km take another right at flagging
* At 76.1 km Arrive at the bridge over Walbran creek.

  It is suggested that you read; The British Columbia Governments guide for safe travel on logging roads.

Images from the reunion 24th july 2011

 Thanks to Jason Miller for passing on some photos he took of the forest during the reunion, they show how we had such great weather. first picture he titled 'Summer light in the Rainforest'. Click on the image to enlarge.

 Second photo is of the slow growing Pacific Yew. 

Third picture is of one of many giant Red Cedars outside the park boundry in the still unprotected area called 'Castle Grove'.

Fourth picture is taken at the waterfalls just above where the West Walbran meets the Walbran Creek. titled 'Falls spherical cavity'.

Fifth picture of a notice of new species research in the canopy of the rainforest.

Sixth picture is of 'fellar buncher' on the road out of the valley, clear-cut logging continues right up to the park boundry.