Excerpts from last week’s (July 10th/Issue #1692) Open Letter to Sam Borthwick and David Graham
“Many community members are calling for more proactive mandates to protect this island from further forest and habitat loss. A new advocacy group called The Friends of the Gulf Islands is pressuring the Islands Trust to implement stricter guardrails on development that impact the natural world. Private property owners across this Island, (and all the Gulf Islands) are “legally” clear cutting, and cutting trees on slopes close to sensitive riparian zones which eventually affect water tables, destroy essential wind and storm breaks, cause soil erosion, habitat loss and contribute to local climate instability.
We appreciate the energy and time that you give to your responsibilities as Trustees. With a strong committed community behind you, Denman Island can be an unflinching leader in environmental protection. We must act now to bring in stricter bylaws and regulations to protect forests and trees on private property, as well as send a clear message that Gulf Islands are not suitable venues for land speculators and developers”
The following community members have added their names in support of the Open Letter.
Brad Hornick, Heather Mclean, Rosa Telegus, Sandy Schafer, Eileen O’Brien, and Denman Islanders For Climate Action and Social Justice (DICASJ)
