Action Alert

November 14, 2005: CATHEDRAL GROVE'S FATE STILL HANGING IN THE BALANCE

B.C.

CATHEDRAL GROVE'S FATE STILL HANGING IN THE BALANCE
by Richard Boyce

I have been privileged to walk in one of the most rare and sensitive ecosystems on the planet, an ancient wetland forest growing on the active floodplain of a meandering river.  This Douglas Fir/Sword Fern plant community is red listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and is made even more rare because these giant trees grow in a wetland that is flooded by seasonal rains.

The fact is, Douglas Fir trees do not like their roots to be wet and require drainage in order to survive.  Yet some of these trees have been able to survive for over 800 years despite frequent flooding of the entire area.  Walking through the forest of Cathedral Grove along the Cameron River, I was impressed by Douglas Fir trees, 6-8 feet across at the butt, perched on mounds and ridges that kept them out of the numerous channels  washed out by flood waters.

I first became aware of the latest attempt by the BC Liberal Government to push a 5 acre parking lot into the sensitive floodplain of the Cameron River when I met a civil and landscape engineer surveying the area in January 2004.  He explained that the plan included a 1 km long trail that would connect the proposed parking lot with the viewing area where the largest and tallest trees stand which is visited by 850,000 people every year.  The plan required an excavator and chain saws to clear and scrape a swath though the wetland forest which would then be covered by thick landscape fabric and gravel.  The trails would be mounded to stay out of the swampy water and would create a series of loops to access most of the untouched portion of the provincial park.

Since then I have given tours of this wetland forest to biologists, forest technicians, silviculturalists, BC Minister of WLAP, and BC Parks managers.  All but the bureaucrats agreed that disturbing the ground water with gravel, roadways, and dikes might kill these trees that are growing so delicately through out the wetland forest.

I have counted seven species of ferns growing amongst Salmon Berry, Cascara, Thimble berry, and Nootka Rose. The occasional thicket of Devil"s Club grows out of the rich black soil of the bottom lands surrounded by fragrant Stink Current and Red Elderberry.  Lichens and mosses hang from the lower branches and trunks of most trees. The thick fluted bark of the dominant trees, ancient Douglas Fir,  provides  nesting for small birds such as Winter Wren and Pacific Flycatchers. The variety of tree species, age, thickness, and height creates a forest that is truly diverse and is abundant with life and death.

Many standing dead trees provide life to thousands of organisms from fungi and insects to birds.  Massive trees, leveled by the Qualicum Wind of New Year’s Day 1997, lie with their rootballs exposed and covered with a thick forest of seedling trees, Bog Cranberry, Huckleberry, and Trailing Blackberry.  Beneath these fallen giants is a reservoir of moisture that endures the drought of summer  and provides sanctuary for newts, salamanders, frogs, and many insects that help to transform wood into soil.

I am happy to report that I have seen a remnant herd of Roosevelt Elk, endangered on Vancouver Island, wintering in the wetland portion of Cathedral Grove. Red-Legged frogs, red-listed by COSEWIC, live in a pond directly adjacent to the proposed parking lot area.  I have also encountered owls, hawks, bear, bats, rough bellied newts, trout, and many song birds in the wetland forest proposed for the parking lot and trail system.

Concerned citizens put a stop to this plan and as a result of public protest the park has been doubled in size.  However, to date the public has not been given an opportunity to provide input into the proposed plans for a parking lot. The BC Liberal government is holding open houses to show their latest plans for Cathedral Grove.

  Please attend between 5:30 and 8:30 pm!
Port Alberni - Nov. 15, Best Western Barclay, 4277 Stamp Ave.
Parksville - Nov. 22, Community and Convention Centre, 132 E. Jensen
  You may be wondering why there are no meetings being held in Victoria or Vancouver regarding this provincial issue.

For more information phone: (250) 387-1187

DON'T LET THIS BE A PRESENTATION WHERE THE BC LIBERALS TELL THE PUBLIC HOW IT WILL BE IN THIS PUBLIC PARK.
Let the BC Minister of Environment know what you think: E-mail: barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca
  Phone: 250 387-1187
  Fax: 250 387-1356
  PO Box 9047
  STN PROV GOVT
  Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Chris Kissinger - BC Parks Recreation Section Head Vancouver Island Region Ministry of Environment
ph. 250.337.2415 fax. 250.337.5695 e-mail:  Chris.Kissinger@gov.bc.ca

Topic(s): Forestry News, Member News , More Enviro News, policy news, Poor Performers, Tourism News, Transportation News, Wildlife News

Posted By ECOBC

RSS
 
More Action Alert Articles



Website By: Pencilneck Software Corp. Design by: Brad Hornick Communications