Tag Archives: Mark Worthing

Animals

Conservationists urge B.C. to protect bear dens ‘before it’s too late’

Click here for ‘The need to protect Black Bear dens on Vancouver Island‘

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The photo of a baby black bear scrabbling around the woody debris of its destroyed den is certainly heart-rending, conservation biologist Tony Hamilton says.

The former large carnivore specialist with B.C.’s Environment Ministry recalls being called to attend the incident, despite it occurring more than a decade ago. 

A mother and her cub were displaced from their nest in a huge, old stump that had been destroyed during logging operations in a second-growth forest on Vancouver Island near Campbell River.   

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Animals, Environment

The need to protect Black Bear dens on Vancouver Island

Unlike their Mainland cousins, Vancouver Island’s Black Bears make their dens almost exclusively in large-diameter old trees, stumps, logs, or root wads. Dens are normally left dormant for a while after use, due to parasite infestation and the need to escape predators. However a study in the Nimpkish Valley, south of Port McNeill, found that 72% of the dens were reused over a 15 year period. In one case, the den was occupied during four winters. 

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Forests, Indigenous Nations

Indigenous leaders and environmentalists speak out about Gold River road use Dispute

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Reporter

Indigenous leaders and environmentalists are standing behind a Gold River-area First Nation in its dispute with one of Vancouver Island’s largest forest companies. 

North Island hereditary chiefs and the environmental advocacy group Sierra Club B.C. have expressed their support for Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) who are caught in an ongoing feud with Western Forest Products (WFP) over trespassing and road use compensation. 

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Forests

Old Growth Forest Logging During COVID

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Who is keeping an eye on the forests? That’s a question that environmental groups have been asking ever since COVID-19 put limitations on all major watchdog activities. As logging continues amidst COVID-19 lockdown, conservationists are worried that there’s no one around to monitor old growth forest logging on North Vancouver Island.

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Forests

How Does BC Defend Logging the Walbran?

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On September 18th BC’s Ministry of Forests gave Teal Jones approval to start logging in what is believed to be one of Canada’s most important stands of unprotected old-growth rain-forest. The Walbran Valley, on Vancouver Island, contains some of the nation’s oldest and largest red cedar and sitka spruce trees. Teal Jones has applied to log eight cutbacks. So far, they have only been permission to log a 3.2 hectare section known as Cutblock 4424. Yet when you consider the role that trees have fighting Climate Change, how does BC defend logging the Walbran?


A spokesperson from the Ministry of Forests provided most of the answers that follow.

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