BC premier David Eby’s recent announcement about a transformational shift after “decades of forest management that has prioritized timber supply over ecosystems and the health of British Columbia’s forests,” as well as the February 13 amendments made to the act governing forestry practices striking out the words “without unduly reducing the supply of timber from British Columbia's forests” appear like very good news, at least on the surface [“Old-growth logging deferrals in BC increase to 2.1 million hectares: minister,” February 15].
As of September 2022, the Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) used to determine to what extent clear-cut logging would be allowed to impact the appearance of the landscape in “Supernatural BC” in the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District (SCNRD) were altered.
In the past there were extensive public consolations to determine these objectives. Even though the forests, lands and natural resource operations staff acknowledged the process was insufficient and the omission to consult local governments was not undertaken, they refused to extend the consultation period beyond four months.
The spectacular scenery of the forested mountain landscapes found in the SCNRD define our coastal lifestyle and tourism product. The protection of these scenic values for recreation and tourism is critical to supporting the local economies, as is the continuing support of sustainable logging practices that take into account the modern science of ecosystems and habitats that support the health of the forest.
The NDP government altering the regulation governing the Visual Quality Objectives of the SCNRD at this time implies a diminishing timber supply in this district.
Why do I feel like the right hand is obscuring what the left hand is doing?
Leslie Goresky,
Texada Island
