I am writing to express my deep conviction that sustainable logging should no longer include large ancient rainforest areas.
Large trees that have stood for more than 500 hundred years should not be cut down.
There are so few of them left.
This seems to me to be obvious logic.
Only 380,000 hectares of ancient rainforest that support large trees (3%) is left standing, according to Rachel Holt of Veridian Ecological Consulting.
Please enact a bill to put an immediate halt on logging of large trees in old-growth forests (the remaining 3 %) permanently.
After the large ancient treasures are protected, the remaining total old-growth rainforest (which is close to 13 million hectares = 20%) needs management.
Please make it a priority to enact legislation that declares the conservation of ecosystem health and biodiversity as the overarching goal recommended in the report, “A New Future for Old Forests.”
Sustainable logging is so important to B.C.
Please consult first with scientists and First Nations groups in planning future logging practices to maintain ecosystem diversity.
We need strong leadership now to do whatever is in their elected powers to protect the last 380,000 hectares of ancient rainforest that supports large trees.
Many citizens of B.C. and I are counting on you.
Jill Aikens
Squamish
