B.C. - Handle with care

I JUST came back from a seven-day vacation on Van-
couver Island, where I discovered that there’s really no
escaping the need for ecological awareness, even on holi-

day.

Given the type of resource-
based industries that British Col-
umbia is engaged in, there scems
to be hardly anywhere you can go

- in the province that hasn't been
touched, positively or negatively,
by mining, fishing, logging and
the like.

There are,’ of course, excep-
tions. “But it was-hard to find any
“on Vancouver Island.

From'Nanaime we traveled
north, hitting Camptell River,
Port McNeill, Alert Bay on Cor-

’ . morant- Island, Port Hardy, Cape

. Scott . Provincial Park at the
‘northernmost poipt of the island,

and all stops in between.

From Cape Scott we drave on

. logging. roads to Winter Harbour,

a tiny

south again to. Duncan, west to

Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew.
nthe west side of. the istand,

near the Carmanah Valley and the
\ kick-off point for the West Coast
Trail..

“From ‘Point Renfrew it was on

6 Victoria, hugging the west side
of.. Vancouver Island. and passing
through Jordan River and Sooke.

Much of our travel was on log-

thee give: hikers and: campers
access: to. parts of the island that
ould otherwise be. inaccessible,

: but: also™-provide'a good view of |

‘the: number’ of ‘slearcuts scarring

the landscape.
it first, the sight is a bit shock-

it;.as the ‘War-torn appearance of

surroundings becomes a com-.

On. sight. ‘throughout the island.

‘But it: remains hard to believe
that this logging practice is'as sus-
tainable ‘the aan companies

fishing settlement, then .

‘abandon the

Peggy
Trendell-Whittaker

ECOINFO

The extent to. which many
tourists or residents in B.C. are
affected :zy various~ ecological
concerns . was well-illustrated at
the Straificona Park Lodge, an
outdoors-oriented private resort

on the shores of Upper Campbell |

Lake.
The lodge and its surroundings

. are lovely. It’s located very near

the-berder of Strathcona Park,
which offers a wide range of
possibilities for outdoor adven-
turers and naturalists.

But as you sit on the porch ‘of
the lodge, overlooking the water,
you’ can’t help but notice the
clearcut visible on the opposite
shores. ,

And‘ then. you learn that the.

lake wasn’t even there 35 years
ago, but was caused when B.C.
Hydro dammed Campbell River.

- As the lake level rises and falls .

depending on the rate of flow
over the darn, there is fittle shore
life that can be seen.

- ‘closed’ to human access when war-

ranted, by resource’. sensitivity.
Studies .have shown that orcas
rubbing ~ beaches

",. when humans are present on the

Whale :Committee report, <
yntains 27. recommenda-
i iller _ - ecological reserve.

_ing . without

. Stathcona,
7 Campbell River areas.-

land. wl co
The committee report ‘also em-

~ phasizes that the estuary’s fragile

vegetation cannot support trampl-
; “excessive. damege.
Public input to. the committee

demonstrated widespread support -

for restricting access to. the

‘Visitors to the area will be in-
formed of the closure by B.C.
Parks’ Visitor Programs staff sta-

- tioned on-site for the summer
months. The. closure will be coop- |
“eratively enforced by Parks staff ~

and conservation officers in the
Port “Hardy and

Our Green Planet
KRecipe* for a cleaner, healthier environment
Fall Leaves

ins vesdot sending your fal eaves off to the local landfill site,

into your oardens.

Ani 1 inexpensive way to enrich your soil and dispose of fall leaves
reate leaf mold. Collect i eaves in a heavy black plastic bag,

al nutrients from the Surrounding soil

Unlike saltwater plants
animals that have adapted to a
continuous tide, lake flora and

fauna are not equipped for such a §

flux.

At the other end of the lake
from the hydroelectric dam is the
connecting Buttle Lake, and at the
end of that is the Westmin mine,
which has just installed a new set-
tling pond to deal with the water
pollution problems that had been
identified.

The mine is within the bound-
aries of the provincial park and
employs about 600 workers. Ycu
drive through the mine complex
on your way to various hikes and
campsites.

Industry isn’t inherently bad.
But an integrated approach to -

resource management is obviously
vital if we are to maintain our

province as a first-class natural

habitat and tourist attraction.

We are unbelievably fortunate
to live in a province of such
riches. I knew that, of course, but
a trip into the B.C. rainforest and
onto the western,
shores of -Vancouver Island
reminded me again.

British Columbia. Handle with

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1385 Crown St: NVan. ‘986- :

Open House.
Information. Display

as part of the ongoing consultation process and’ to’ provide «
a review of the plans for the establishment of a wildlife:
conservation area and environmental. science. centre at

- Maplewood South |

All those interested in the project are welcome to, attend

Saturday September 19 a
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

at Canadian. International College .
2420 Dollarton Highway, North Vancouver

Multipurpose Room

On hand to answer questions will be representatives from:

Environmental Services, Public Works Canada
Conservation and Protection, Environment Canada

Canadian Wildlife Service

Lambur Scott Morris (architectural consultants)

For more information please call 666-6782