So what does the public in British Columbia believe is happening in our forests, and what do they want? Between February 25 and February 27, 1997, a survey was conducted to determine B.C. residents' attitudes and beliefs about current forestry practices in the province.*

Re: Clearcutting under the Code -- Our February 1997 survey revealed:

50% of respondents think clearcutting in B.C. has been "reduced" or "eliminated," while 46% of respondents think that clearcutting has "remained the same" or "increased".

69% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: "With alternatives available I don't see why clearcut logging should continue." 29% disagreed.

But as we have shown, of some 28 different harvesting methods available to be used by forest companies, clearcutting was the method being utilized for 92% of l0,000 approved cutblocks reviewed.⁶⁰

Re: Old-Growth:

50% of British Columbians thought that the cutting down of old-growth forest in B.C. had been "reduced" or "eliminated," while 41% thought such old-growth harvesting had "remained the same" or "increased" (11%).

In fact, the Ministry of Forests reports that if we define old-growth as original forest, "95% of all the logging in B.C. is of old-growth forests".⁶¹

Our survey found, however, that most respondents do not at all agree with that practice:

77% of respondents believe that logging of B.C.'s old growth forest should be stopped immediately or phased out; while only 20% believe such logging should continue.

As well, our survey found that -- despite all the forestry ads and mailouts -- Premier Glen Clark is having difficulty with credibility in this area:

When asked: "Do you agree or disagree with Glen Clark when he says he is doing all he can to protect B.C.'s forests?", 81% disagreed, while only 19% agreed.

Thus, our survey revealed that a strong majority of B.C. respondents are in favour of protecting old-growth forests and ending the clearcutting of such forests and many assume that is actually being done as part of the new era in B.C. forestry under the Code.

Nevertheless, the survey found that the majority of respondents think that the actual rate of cut has not been reduced under the Forest Practices Code and other new legislation:

54% believe that the amount of forest cut down each year has "remained the same" or "increased (24%); while 38% think it has been "reduced".

In 1996, logging companies cut 67.6 million cubic metres of timber on Crown land -- up from 66.8 million cubic metres in 1995. For the five-year period of 1995-2000, the AACs set by the Chief Forester for 37 of 71 Timber Supply Areas and Tree Farm Licences have gone up by an average of 1%.⁶² Rather than gradually reduce the AAC, the Ministry apparently intends to later suddenly decrease it dramatically -- a highly questionable plan.

Re: Biodiversity Protection -- Our survey found that:

51% of respondents believe that logging in areas where endangered species live has been "reduced" or "eliminated"; while 46% believe it has "remained the same" or "increased".

But so far under the Forest Practices Code, there have been no designations of "identified species" at risk, and the government refuses to introduce endangered species legislation.

Nonetheless, our survey found that the majority of respondents are overwhelmingly in favour of protecting the environment:

94% of respondents agreed with the statement: "Strong rules to protect the environment are important even if it costs a bit more." Only 7% disagreed with this statement.

Having "strong rules" with no enforcement is not acceptable to most respondents.

86% of respondents agreed with the statement: "I think that in light of recent news reports on damage to streams in the province due to forestry practices that logging companies should be held responsible for this damage." Only 13% disagreed.

"Sympathetic administration" of the forest industry by government, and the close relationships between the two, has long been an issue in B.C. But according to our poll, the majority of respondents do not favour the increased industry collaboration that both Forest Minister Zirnhelt and Premier Clark have hinted at:

57% of respondents disagreed with the statement: "Forest companies should have more influence over government decisions affecting the environment."

Nonetheless, the forest industry want government to actually "ease" an already ineffective Code for the sake of "costs".

But, after years of picking up the tab for environmental destruction by the forest industry, the majority (86%) of respondents to our poll want companies to be held accountable for their actions -- especially regarding destruction of streams.

Clearly, British Columbians want better stewardship for their forests. Most significantly, the public wants an end to logging of old-growth forests and an end to clearcutting.