Dear Professional Foresters, BCTS
It has come to the attention of Vancouver Island Forest Focus (VIFF) that a Public Engagement Plan was prepared by BCTS for the S. Elphinstone Watershed on the Sunshine Coast. This Plan included a Watershed Assessment, a Terrain Stability Assessment and a period for public input. Given the high level of public interest in the protection and management of the fisheries in the Nahmint Watershed on Vancouver Island, VIFF would like to know what Public Engagement has been undertaken or will be undertaken in the Nahmint Watershed..
Watershed Assessment for the S. Elphinstone Watershed carried out by Polar GeoScience under contract with BCTS resulted in the reduction in the size of cut blocks based on the equivalent clearcut area (ECA). However we do not think that ECA alone is a sufficient indicator of watershed recovery. Therefore we ask that BCTS conduct a full watershed assessment using the probabilistic watershed model, as set out by Dr. Younes Alila (Department of Forestry, UBC).
Since the Nahmint is a sensitive fisheries watershed it must also be managed with the health and integrity of the salmon habitat as the highest value. Therefore BCTS must demonstrate that any planned logging and road building will not result in any further negative cumulative effect to fisheries values. To that end, we ask that all assessments dealing with the possible impacts on the fishery in the Nahmint Watershed be made available to local First Nations, DFO, local StreamKeepers, regional government and the public.
Until this assessment is done, including peer review and revisions necessary to address issues raised during the public comment period, no blocks should go forward to auction.
Anything less, can be seen as wilful disregard of standard professional planning processes.
We are poised to make a formal complaint to the Forest Professionals BC body that abides by the FPBC’s Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct: Sections 22 and 57, which states “all registrants are responsible to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and the protection of the environment.”
We anticipate a timely response to this critical issue.
Best Regards,
www.for.gov.bc.ca – /ftp/TCH/external/!publish/InformationSharing/Mt_Elphinstone_South_Watershed_Assessment/
https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/TCH/external/!publish/InformationSharing/Mt_Elphinstone_South_Watershed_Assessment/
