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| Stop Castle Logging protesters at logging site January, 2012 C. Davis photo |
Modified from a Stop Castle Logging Group press release
'Stop Castle Logging' supporters will be holding a rally in Beaver Mines on Sunday, January 20 to highlight their ongoing concerns with Spray Lake Sawmills’ logging in the Castle Special Place area.
People are expected to begin arriving in Beaver Mines for the rally around 11 am at the Beaver Mines gazebo, which is located in the park directly behind the Beaver Mines store. Organizers ask that attendees park on 2nd Avenue so as not to fill the store's parking lot. Lunch will be provided from about noon to 1 pm, and the rally itself is scheduled to go from about 1 to 2 pm.
“We’ve been consistent in our opposition to this logging”, said Mike Judd of Timberwolf. “Just because Spray Lake Sawmills has now started clear-cutting doesn’t mean we’ve given up and gone away. The Castle’s forest is far too valuable for water, wildlife, recreation, and wilderness-based businesses to be turned into 2x4’s and mulch.”
“A group of local residents and the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) have also returned to court to try to stop the logging”, added Gordon Petersen of the CCWC. “Our case is scheduled to be heard on January 21, and we’re looking forward to making our arguments.”
Organizers argue that the Castle was declared a Special Place in 1998, but remains the only one of 81 Special Places not to have received final legal designation as a protected area. They say the current logging is taking place in the recreational heart of the Castle, and in what is considered core grizzly bear habitat under the grizzly bear recovery plan.
Peter Sherrington, a member of the Stop Castle Logging Group, said “While we’re dismayed that logging is taking place this winter, we do commend the province for putting years two and three of the logging on hold. We trust and expect that the hold will become permanent, and that the province will complete the task of legislating protection for the Castle that has been in the works for the past 15 years.”
Increasingly, Albertans up and down the eastern slopes are finding themselves dealing with contentious land-use issues that include headwaters protection, increased recreational pressure, wildlife conservation, and what many call inappropriate logging plans.
“It’s in no one’s best interests—not the public’s, not the government’s, and certainly not the forest company’s—to be fighting about logging plans valley-by-valley and project-by-project”, explained Sarah Elmeligi of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “We need to come up with a new approach to logging in the southern eastern slopes that recognizes the important ecological goods and services, like clean water, these forests provide. We should be planning forestry practices to enhance these services, not further impact them.”
Most of us locals , are so tired of this "Eco Group", tiring to tell our community how to due business in the area. I note a large number of this group, make a living as lawyers,Eco advisers,etc. The majority of us pro logging people are to busy making money the usual way to be heard! I myself, am typing this at the breakfast-table, before I am off to work.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, you are wrong by saying most people are tired of this 'Eco Group', most locals are AGAINST clear cut logging in the Castle area. Secondly, their not telling you how to do business in the area, they are just standing up to the issue and fighting for what they believe in. Thirdly, most people in the group ['Stop Castle Logging] are average people and have average jobs and are not lawyers, Eco advisers, etc. Fourthly, I have never heard about making money the usual way; what is the usual way?? I am against logging in the Castle and I support the effort being made by the Stop Castle Logging Group.
DeleteI challenge the MD and town to due a true poll of the people's feeling in the area. The Eco people use " clear cut " to stand behind, but they really want all logging stopped! I, as a rancher,Ilove nature! This is why I do the job I do. The amount of game in the area has increased dramatically over the years! The "poor" grizzlies, now appear to show up in herds at local granaries! I to am standing up for what I believe, and what "I know"! Do a poll, or do you already know and fear the answer?
ReplyDeleteI too am a local rancher but are most definitely against clear-cutting the Castle. Please don't make broad generalizations about "us locals" or how many of us who are opposed to clear-cutting, make our livings. Just because I'm not part of this so-called "eco-group", make no mistake that I'm only 1 of the 75% of locals that are opposed. "Empty vessels make the loudest noise".
ReplyDeleteThe Community Values Assessment done by the Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative (SASCI), released in March 2012, had similar findings to the previous polls “…the strongest opposition among residents was for increasing opportunities for motorized recreation (OHVs, dirt bikes, etc.), allowing clear cutting of the Castle Special Management Area, and subdividing land currently used for agriculture.”
ReplyDelete