Important Update: B.C. Timber Agency Suspends New Logging on Vital Caribou Habitat Near Revelstoke

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) is hitting the pause button on new forestry projects in key caribou habitats in the Revelstoke-Shuswap region. This decision, shared by Wildsight, an environmental organization, means that thousands of forested hectares will remain untouched for now.

In the past, BCTS had been clear that they would not start new developments in areas critical for caribou until they received direction from the provincial government. The southern mountain caribou population, particularly the Columbia North herd, is facing significant threats from deforestation and climate change, leaving them with just about 200 individuals.

Eddie Petryshen, a conservation specialist from Wildsight, noted that BCTS manages crucial caribou habitats within their tenure areas. This change is a crucial win for conservation efforts and may encourage other forestry companies to reconsider their practices. In the Revelstoke-Shuswap region, BCTS controls around 112,000 hectares, much of which overlaps with caribou habitats.

The decision to halt new projects follows complaints from Wildsight about the excessive disturbance of caribou habitats. If older trees are cut down, younger forests may attract more moose, which in turn can lead to an increase in wolves that prey on caribou.

While BCTS will still continue with projects that are already underway, some ongoing developments, such as a 40-hectare timber sale near Nagle Creek, remain a point of concern. As Petryshen pointed out, clearing this area could disrupt the already vulnerable Columbia North herd’s low-elevation habitats.

In recent years, public pressure has played a significant role in shaping BCTS’s decisions. In 2020, advocacy efforts led to the postponement of cutting 300 hectares near Argonaut Creek. Two years later, similar concerns pushed BCTS to rethink plans for another 266 hectares in the upper Seymour River Valley, an area rich in caribou habitat and inland temperate rainforest.

“We’re encouraged that BCTS is starting to listen to Indigenous Nations and the public,” Petryshen added.

With this new directive, many are waiting to see if other lumber companies will follow BCTS’s lead in protecting the delicate ecosystems in the Seymour River watershed. As society becomes more aware of environmental issues, it’s crucial for businesses to align their practices with community values and conservation efforts.



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