Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
West Fraser Hinton paused its controversial clearcut logging plan in critical habitat of the threatened A La Peche caribou in west-central Alberta, following the province鈥檚 creation of a temporary 鈥淣o Harvest Zone鈥� until it finishes its land-use plan for the area.
The decision comes after months of opposition from local trappers, the Mountain M茅tis community, the conservation community and concerned Albertans.
While conservation groups said in a joint press release that they appreciate the change, they are making calls for the caribou population to be permanently protected.
John E. Marriot of EXPOSED Wildlife Conservancy said it was a great first step but means very little unless the area remains intact habitat for caribou.
鈥淐onsidering that Alberta government contractors have already begun the aerial gunning of wolves in caribou ranges throughout west central Alberta again this winter, it is imperative that the government also pulls all available mitigation levers for caribou recovery, especially when it comes to protecting core old-growth habitat,鈥� Marriott said.
鈥淐omprehensive plans are still needed. It buys time to reconsider logging intensively in this region,鈥� said Carolyn Campbell, conservation director with the Alberta Wilderness Association.
鈥淐aribou are really important, as are endangered Athabasca rainbow trout. Moon Creek is a critical habitat stream for (them). We really appreciate the Alberta government and West Fraser for taking this step. We鈥檙e also asking the provincial government to reduce clear cuts in west-central Alberta caribou ranges.鈥�
Since the winter of 2005-6, Campbell said there has been an intense wolf cull.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not right to keep clear cutting in caribou range and scapegoating wolves because of a human-caused problem,鈥� she said.
In the press release, Campbell said, 鈥淎t a minimum, AWA asks Alberta to uphold no harvest zones in undisturbed habitat until it has approved land-use plans for all its highly vulnerable west central Alberta caribou, including the 脌 La P锚che, Little Smoky, Redrock-Prairie Creek and Narraway populations.鈥�
鈥淭hanks to concerned Albertans, the provincial government and West Fraser, we are able to give this caribou herd some hope,鈥� said Gillian Chow-Fraser of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Northern Alberta, in the press release.
鈥淭here is so little intact habitat left in caribou ranges in Alberta, especially the 脌 La P锚che winter range and Little Smoky range. This was an important move from the government and industry to respect caribou needs and meet Canada鈥檚 caribou recovery requirements.鈥�
鈥淗alting logging here in critical caribou habitat is absolutely the right decision to be making in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, with caribou in the thick of it,鈥� Dawe said.
鈥淭he caribou need this habitat and it should be permanently protected.鈥�
The 51暗网 asked West Fraser what reasons, in addition to the province鈥檚 creation of a temporary 鈥淣o Harvest Zone,鈥� led to its decision to halt clearcut logging plans.
Joyce Wagenaar, West Fraser communications director, wrote in an email how 鈥渟ustainable, healthy forests and ecosystems are critical to West Fraser.鈥�
鈥淲e consult extensively with government, local Indigenous Nations, trappers, recreation users, local governments and the general public in the development of our harvest plans and determine those areas consistent with direction provided by the province.鈥�
Wagenaar said West Fraser uses various methods to share information and consult stakeholders, including letters, phone calls, field visits, meetings and open houses.
鈥淲e put ads in local newspapers indicating timelines for responses but will extend timelines if action items arise from our engagement.鈥�
She added West Fraser provides information to public advisory groups for discussion at meetings.
West Fraser says caribou recovery and other outcomes would occur in the years following the release of the subregional land-use plan.
鈥淲est Fraser anticipates that the sub-regional land use plan will define which activities can occur, in addition to when and where they can occur, to support the objectives of the plan, which include caribou recovery,鈥� Wagenaar said.
Wagenaar added that West Fraser was redirecting harvest operations to other locations within its tenure allocations in the Hinton and Edson region.
