The Sea to Sky region may soon have 12,000 hectares of protected old-growth forest.
Provincial officials are seeking the public’s opinion on a proposal to establish old-growth management areas in the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District. The land would protect biological diversity of the forests through the use of formal land-use objectives that must be observed during timber harvesting operations, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said in a statement.
One proposed old-growth management area is north of Squamish from the Mamquam and Cheakamus river watersheds to Rubble Creek at the south end of Daisy Lake.
The other two areas are north of Whistler, one along the west side of the Lillooet and Tuwasus river to the Sloquet River and Tipella at the north end of Harrison Lake, and the other along the east side of Lillooet Lake from Highway 99 to Baptiste-Smith.
Copies of the proposed order, including plans and maps, can be viewed or downloaded at www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/DSQ/external/!publish/PublicReviewOGMA.
Residents can make written submissions on the proposed land-use objectives during a 60-day review period that ends on Friday, July 25.
