On June 18th, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) sent out a letter stating that it would announce the winning bids for two new woodlots on Gambier Island. More than 100 people wrote letters protesting this step forward in the process that would lead to 25 percent of Gambier being actively logged. On June 24th, the Gambier Island Conservancy applied for judicial review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in an effort to freeze the process. Later that day, the deputy minister, Craig Sutherland informed the Conservancy that it would be at least a few more weeks before any woodlot licenses would be awarded.
Former Bowen Island Mayor, Bob Turner, assisted the Gambier Conservancy with the launch of its letter-writing campaign. Turner says that Bowen Islanders need to be engaged on this issue because as Islanders, we have a common cause.
“Yes, Crown Lands on Bowen are a little bit different. We are a municipality, so there might be a stronger referral process if there were logging proposed here,” says Turner. “We are also a part of the Vancouver Forest district, and the attitude might be completely different with that district than the Sunshine Coast Forest District, which Gambier is a part of. But I think that what’s happening on Gambier can be considered as a test of how this government operates in terms of consultation, and every Island in Howe Sound should be paying attention.”
Stakeholders on Gambier have been calling for a consultation on the proposed opening of new woodlots on the island. At the request of the Islands Trust representatives from Gambier, the bid process was put on hold until a stakeholders meeting could be held with the ministry.
One of the Islands Trust representative for Gambier, Kate-Louise Stamford, says that a meeting with the ministry took place on May 29th and the she was not invited, however, she did invite herself and was admitted in to the meeting.
“They [the ministry] seemed to recognize that the communication was not enough,” says Stamford. “There was mention of holding a public forum in West Van, or a stakeholders round-table, but this was all quite vague.”
According to the letter sent out by Craig Sutherland, the selected woodlot applicant will have to develop a management plan that will require approval.
“It is important to note that the public opportunity for further input continues after the award decision. Woodlot license holders are obliged by law to share their license plans with interested public and consider the input from the public. The District Manager determines whether identified concerns have been adequately considered prior to approval of the woodlot license plan and before any operations can commence.”
Turner says that this approach does not reflect the concerns of the many citizens who have stated their opposition to the plan to open up these two new woodlots.
“The ministry is saying yes, automatically to logging, and then talking about consultation on the best way to do it,” says Turner. “Almost two thousand people have signed a petition to stop the logging, and more than100 people have written letters – with twenty of those coming from Bowen. I think the ministry is looking at the short term prospect of balancing this year’s budget, but in doing so it is making a decision that will impact the land for the 20 year tenure plus the time that it takes the forest to grow back.”
According to the Gambier Island Conservancy, the Province would make just under a million dollars upfront for opening up the proposed land for logging, and a yearly stumpage fee of roughly $9 thousand per woodlot.
