GREENPEACE IS RIGHT: GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS SUBSTANTIATE ENVIRONMENTALISTS' CONCERNS ABOUT PROBLEMS IN B.C. FORESTS

Govt. response to Greenpeace's Broken Promises report is "a piece of garbage", according to Ministry of the Environment

VICTORIA, B.C. 28 July, 1997

Government documents released today substantiate the information contained within "Broken Promises: The Truth About What's Happening to B.C.'s Forests", a report released by Greenpeace. The report first prompted Premier Glen Clark to call environmentalists "enemies of B.C.".

The documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal that "Greenpeace's report was prepared based largely on, or interpreted from, forest industry and government data including Freedom of Information. "...It would be difficult to attempt to discredit the report because of the source of so much of the date upon which it is based."

"Broken Promises" chronicled a series of commitments made by the B.C. government concerning our new "world class" logging, and then contrasted these claims with recent government data to show the reality of what's happening in B.C.'s forests. The report demonstrated that:

• 92% of the logging done in B.C. is still by clearcutting;
• 83% of streams are still being logged right to the streambanks;
• none of the Code's measures for protecting wildlife or endangered species have been implemented;
• clearcut logging continues on steep, unstable slopes despite the high risks of landslides;
• the Code is not being enforced - no criminal charges have been laid although the Code has been law for over two years; and
• despite government promises and initiatives, the rate of logging in British Columbia has fallen by less than 1% from 1001 to 1996.

Shortly after the release of Broken Promises, the Ministry of Forests released the government's official response, entitled "Forest Management Facts versus Greenpeace Claims". One of the documents obtained through Freedom of Information provides the Ministry of the Environment's assessment of the official government response stating that it "is a piece of garbage."

"Glen Clark decided to go on a mud-slinging campaign, rather than deal with the fact that clearcutting continues, streams continue to be destroyed and species that rely on old growth forests are being placed at risk of extinction," said Tamara Stark, Forests Campaigner for Greenpeace Canada. "It is now time for the Premier to instead show some responsible leadership by working to solve the problems in B.C.'s forests."

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

David Boyd at Sierra Legal Defense Fund 604-685-5618

Tamara Stark at Greenpeace (cell phone) 604-313-0159

Gavin Edwards, Greenpeaec Vancouver 604-253-7701

BACKGROUNDER

Government Documents Support Greenpeace Report

On 21-April-1997 Greenpeace released Broken Promises, a report detailing the B.C. Government's failure to substantially improve destructive logging practices in the province.

The release of Broken Promises prompted B.C. Premier Glen Clark to brand Greenpeace as "enemies of British Columbia." Clark painted the report as part of a "campaign of misinformation."

Recently-obtained government documents obtained through a Freedom of Information requests substantiate the Greenpeace report. The key findings in this investigation are summarized below.

Regarding BROKEN PROMISES...

The B.C. Government says:

... Greenpeace's report was prepared based largely on or interpreted from government and forest industry data, including Freedom of Information requests... It would be difficult to attempt to discredit the report because of the source of much of the data upon which it is based... 1

Regarding BIODIVERSITY...

Broken Promises states:

With no endangered species act and a refusal to implement the elements of the Code that might protect some endangered species many B.C. wildlife species are in jeopardy.2

The B.C. Government reponse:

Greenpeace correctly notes that current government policy supports low biodiversity emphasis option as the provincial government default... Under low emphasis, the Biodiversity Guidebook indicates, "The pattern of natural biodiversity will be significantly altered and the risk of some native species being unable to survive in the area will be relatively high." 2

Until landscape units and landscape unit objectives are in place, low biodiversity emphasis remains as the default, and biodiversity conservation is in jeopardy in British Columbia.2

Regarding PROTECTED AREAS (PAS)...

Broken Promises states:

While originally the Protected Areas Strategy was intended to protect 12% of `representative' ecosystems (i.e. 12% of each forest type)... 61.2% (of new protected areas) is classified as alpine/subalpine terrain (meaning rock and ice).

The B.C. Government response:

Greenpeace's analysis is based on protected areas approved to date. This points to a weakness in application of the conservation goals.2

Regarding the FOREST PRACTICES CODE...

Broken Promises states:

After almost two years under the Code, it is now clear that the discretionary powers given to District Managers have effectively destroyed any power the Code may have to regulate better forest management.

The B.C. Government response:

The decision-makers must be fully accountable for their decisions and exercise professional judgement, otherwise the potential for misuse of the power and mismanagement of the resource could remain unchecked.2

NOTE: There are currently no audits of District Managers' discretionary decision-making.

Regarding STREAMS AND RIPARIAN AREAS...

Broken Promises states:

The destructive logging practice called "cross- yarding" - in which downed trees are dragged across streambeds - continues to be common and routine.

The B.C. Government reponse:

Currently, the discretion left to company engineering staff to fall and yard away where possible is problematic.2

Regarding RATE OF CUT...

Broken Promises states:

The unsustainable rate of cut is the single biggest ecological forestry problem we have. Despite openly acknowledging the overcut problem... the rate of cut has not slowed.

The B.C. Government response:

Retention of old growth is increasingly becoming less of an option, and government is now having to consider rebuilding old growth over three rotations while still continuing to harvest old growth as a priority.

...Fall-down [in harvest levels] is the result of intentional overharvesting of British Columbia's old growth to capture maximum economic benefit from high volume old growth trees... The role of fall-down is not being adequately discussed or acknowledged outside of Timber Supply Review.2

Regarding CLEARCUTTING...

Broken Promises states:

Cutblocks in excess of 100 hectares are commonplace - even though the Forest Practices Code restricts cutblocks to 40 - 60 hectares.

The B.C. Government response:

There are no audits to check if the reasons for exceeding the 40/60 hectare maximum cutblock sizes match the intent of the legislation including retention of wildlife tree patches (stand structure).2

Regarding ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WILDLIFE...

Broken Promises states:

The current logging plan threatens the outright extinction of an internationally significant herd of 1,500 woodland caribou under provicial stewardship.

The B.C. Government response:

The 1% impact cap on identified wildlife means that additional protection, through strategic land use plans and higher level plans, will be required for this (grizzly bear) and other wide-ranging species, such as mountain caribou. 2

NOTE: There are no guarantees that such species would be protected by these planning processes.

Mountain caribou are not protected in British Columbia... Caribou are being considered for inclusion... but, may be excluded owing to the 1% timber impact cap.2

Caribou do need large blocks but they depend on old- growth and mature forest not big clearcuts! 3

Broken Promises states:

Despite opinion polls showing that 96% of British Columbia want legal protection for endangered species, the government continues to ignore public calls to introduce an endangered species act.

The B.C. Government response:

The province has chosen to protect endangered species and their habitat through other mechanisms...2

NOTE: As Broken Promises notes, none of these mechanisms have been implemented. Current planning processes are largely ineffective in protecting endangered species.

Regarding the MIDCOAST...

The Ministry of Environment says:

One area of implementation in particular relates to the Midcoast... MELP participation and input into essential background technical analysis is at risk owing to current funding and travel constraints.1

SOURCES:

1 "Joint MELP/MOF Ministers' Briefing on Broken Promises" Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, 24-April-1997 (File#:97-23).

2 "Greenpeace Report: Broken Promises. Analysis Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks" Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, 23-April-1997.

3 Internal Ministry of Environment memo from Mike Fenger re: MELP review of Greenpeace release. 30-April-1997.