WATERSHED UPDATE – December 4th, 2007

 

In one of my earlier e-mails I had mentioned that I had attended the “value added” workshop hosted recently by the Sechelt Community Forest (Sechelt Projects Inc).

 

I also had been in attendance at the Forest Stewardship course hosted by the Elder College group out of the Capillano College campus in Sechelt.

 

The 2nd lecture of the series was made by Mr Bob Sitter, a Director with Sechelt Projects Inc, and Bob described that one requirement of the Community Forest probationary licence is to have “broad community support” for the forest activities conducted by Sechelt Projects Inc.

 

It is important to note that the “sole shareholder” of Sechelt Projects Inc is the District of Sechelt. Presumably, since the “political masters” of this private company is the Mayor and Council of Sechelt, one may assume that any financial benefits (profits) will flow to the taxpayers of Sechelt  perhaps in the form of payments into the general tax base or budget for the District?

 

If this happens, then these profits generated from public crown lands owned by all Sunshine coast residents, would presumably only benefit the taxpayers of Sechelt. If there are any further economic spin offs from the Community Forest activities in other areas of the Sunshine Coast, then again, presumably other residents of the Coast will benefit from the assumed profitable operations of Sechelt Projects Inc.

 

But one must ask the other side of this scenario, which is, “what happens if the Sechelt Projects Inc (Community Forest) is not profitable? In fact loses money, then what happens?

 

I have put together a spreadsheet that reflects some information I obtained from the Internet and with respect to the timber inventory currently underway by Sechelt Projects Inc. My figures may not be in agreement with the final results from the Terrain Eco system Mapping Project expected to be completed by April, 2008 as recently noted in the Sechelt Community Forest Annual Report circulated this past week in the Coast Reporter.

 

When you exclude the 60% of the timber licence that covers the areas comprised of Grey Creek, Chapman Creek and Wilson Creek watersheds, this leaves only some 40% of the land base in which timber can be harvested in a profitable manner.

 

I plan to begin to attend the Advisory Committee meetings starting with my first one on December 11th, 2007 at 7:00pm, Sechelt Library public use room, and attempt to obtain further information and clarification on the operating plans and data for 2008.

 

Members of the Public are encouraged to attend these meetings, so if any one is interested and can spare the time, then becoming aware of the harvesting plans of the Sechelt Community Forest would be a good thing to know something about.

 

The following e-mails begin to reflect some of the concerns that residents have regarding the intentions of the Sechelt Projects Inc as it may relate to the Chapman Creek watershed.

 

 

Fern Walker’s e-mail regarding Community Forest Update Pauline Montgomery, Publisher, The Local

 

 

The Local Thursday, November 29, 2007 Pages 4 and 10
Dear
 All,
 
It seems that Pauline Montgomery was taken in by Community Forests,  similar to PPA if you can recall. Brian Carson is spewing out half truths , or no truths.  I believe  we need an "expert" to write a letter, or pay for one.  I wonder if they even paid for  the community forest write-up. 
 Maybe the helicopter ride was payment.
 
Unfortunately, the damage is done, but I feel we might be able to  
reassemble part of the carcass, by at least some  form of rebuttal. 
 
The average  person would assume that there really is community  
involvement going on.  "As one of 18 volunteers assisting in the  
management of the Sechelt Community
 Forest, I am pleased with our our  
progress."  Of course, he didn't mentioned that they aren't invited  
to the AGM.
 
And he states:  "Fortunately, we have a ready-made solution to ensure  
good long term management of our forest watersheds."  If he is  
managing, then he is planning to cut.
Here we go again,
Fern Walker
 
 
The following e-mail from Dan Bouman, Executive Director, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, sheds some light on the public’s involvement todate

Yup, I've been hearing the outrage about this. The long anticipated "winter offensive" is underway. Community Forest "volunteer" and board member (and former Interfor CEO) said at an Elder College presentation recently that they will log in the watersheds and "the public will support it". We will see about that!!!!!!! I've got a few things to say, I expect a lot of others do to.  I hope everyone exercises their right to comment.
 
As well, I hope the public noticed that all the vicious attacks on the regional government over the Local Board of Health action was from Sechelt Community Forest directors and contractors. I have no hesitation in saying that the community forest crowd is hostile to the watershed, the public and representative government and wouldn't hesitate for a heartbeat to aggressively mislead people about what is really going on. Maybe I should just move along now.... Everyone knows this!
 
Cheers, Dan Bouman

 

Mike Sidall’s letter to the Publisher of The Local newspaper

 

Editor,

The Local

 

An invitation to log in the drinking watersheds?

I read with interest the reports and editorial comments in your last issue regarding operations of the Sechelt Community Forest .  I was very surprised to see that a newspaper that is independent and progressive enough to establish a regular section devoted to sustainability would, in relation to such an important sustainability issue as the water supply, uncritically and at face value accept the comments of those attempting to justify logging in our drinking watersheds.

 

Because that is exactly the intention of Brian Carson’s lecture.  A significant portion of the CF license area lies within the Chapman and Gray Creek drinking watersheds. It is not a question about how logging methods have improved.  Surely the public outrage about allowing any industrial activity in the Chapman Creek watershed that was expressed this past summer should have been enough to raise concerns about how this issue should be covered. 

 

 We are in a new era, triggered by growing concerns about the future impact of climate change and the vulnerability of water supplies both globally and locally, that move the issue of logging in the watershed beyond a question of mere logging methods. 

 Internationally recognized authorities point out that the preservation of totally intact eco-systems are vitally important to the long term sustainability of water supply and quality.  The value of this far exceeds any short term profits obtained from logging, however carefully done its advocates may proclaim. 

 

 This is certainly recognized by the fact that both the cities of Vancouver and Victoria have acquired total control over their watersheds and forbid any industrial activity

 Unfortunately, the report and editorial fail to recognize the fact that the so-called Community Forest was established in the face of opposition by a large majority of residents of the Sunshine Coast .  A genuine community forest could have many benefits. And forests adjacent to communities should certainly be managed in a way that is not detrimental to those communities. But this "community forest" has been forced on a non-consenting community by the Ministry of Forests. It in no way represents the wishes of the residents of Sechelt. Even Advisory Board members were excluded from the last Annual General Meeting.

 

 Your coverage of these vital community issues is greatly appreciated, but only when they are objectively reported.

 Michael Siddall,

Sechelt

 

The Community Forest board of directors is encouraging the public come out to their Public meeting slated for February 28th, 2008, 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. Between now and that date it would be a good idea if the public became more aware of the facts surrounding the operational plans and the financial information as it relates to the activities of the Community Forest.

 

One way is to attend the advisory committee meetings in December,2007, January and February, 2008.

 

Regards

John Bebbington

 

PS: I have attached a copy of my spreadsheet showing the % of licence area in the three watersheds  (Wilson, Grey & Chapman Creek watersheds). (Click Here)