MAILBOX

Forester slams Hunter

Company-supported forestry research is essential

Dear Editor:

Re: Bob Hunter’s EcoLogic column.

Mr. Hunter states that ‘the Faculty of Forestry at UBC may be working against public in- terest and the long-term survival of natural forests.”

Multiple-use forest manage- ment, such as that taught at UBC, has the goal of providing the greatest socio-economic benefits to the largest number of citizens. Mr. Hunter denigrates the students by implying that they absorb the teachings of the “incredibly ig- norant’’ men and women of the faculty without question or debate.

Mr. Hunter states that ‘*we do not even know how much old- growth forest remains in B.C." Later in his column he states that government policy is to liquidate all old-growth forests ‘‘except for the piddling 2.6 per cent protected thus far.”’ [f we do not know how much old growth exists, how can

Aug. |

Mr. Hunter state that only 2.6 per cent of ic is protected?

Mr. Hunter is correct: when he caus for **a detailed provinee-wide inventory of all remaining old- growth’’ timber. In fact, we should re-inventory aff timber in B.C., thereby arming ourselves with an extremely important tool for decision-making.

The Faculty ot Forestry does not define old-growth timber as “decadent.” Decadence in timber usually implies a forest which has ceased adding net positive growth to itself and one which has addi- tionally a greater than norma) in- cidence of disease.

Foresters seek to extract wealth from the managed forests by duplicating nature’s ‘‘clear cut and burn" forestry that she has been practising for the 12,000 to 15,000 years prior to the existence of B.C. foresters.

Mr. Hunter states that there are no binding regulations requiring the leaving of forest for habitat or

Hunter ‘skewers’ himself

Dear Editor:

While [ am = sure that UBC's forestry faculty can speak for itself, | cannot let Bob Hunter's Aug. | column pass without comment.

On a topic which badly needs rational debate he presents the polemicist’s usual mix of of truths, half-truths and misstate- Ments so that a short, sharp rebuttal would be inaccurate — and who cares to read a careful, lengthy response?

Without going into detail, let me exemplify my criticism. Mr. Hunter is right to label the Car- manah Valley decision as political and not ecological. By definition, then, any blame attaches to politi- cians, not foresters.

His half-truths — an old growth forest is not defined simply as “‘decadent.”’ It is a mature, mix- ed, uneven-aged stand of trees and undergrowth in which some trees are healthy and vigorous, others

are stagnant and some are de- .

cadent, moribund or dead. There is on the ground a considerable accumulation of woody detritus in various stages of decay or decom- position so that old-growth stands provide a multiplicity of micro-sites and habitats for plants, birds, mammals, in- vertebrates and insects. Total biomass is large, but net produc- tivity is small.

Some of UBC’s forest research is world-class science. The pio- neering ecological classification of work by Dr. V. Krajina and the subsequent studies by Drs. K. Klinka and H. Kimmins have received well-deserved interna- tional accolades and it is a grave insult to call them ‘“toadying aca- demics.”’

As for hyperbole and slanted epithets, how about ‘*...incredible ignorance of men and women who presume 10 ‘teach’ forestry... .”’

RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER

Did those PhDs simply come up with the rations? And ‘skewered technical advice..."' — Mr. Hunter skewers himself! Is he a mind reader to assert con- fidently that the forestry sector “deliberately’’ failed to recognize decadent forests for what they are?

Forestry, holistic management of the forest estate, needs. among other things, a public well-in- formed about the complexities of issues and able to discuss these issues rationally.

Mr. Hunter's column could, and should, have made a con- structive contribution. Instead, he has added to the misconceptions and ill-will which confounds reasoned decision-making today. R.M. Strang, PhD, RPF Associate Dean, Renewable: Resources British Columbia Technology

Institute of

Migratory corridors, Each area planned for cutting on the B.C. coast is indicated in’ detail on five-year management working plans, annual development plans and, ultimately, as part of a cut- ting permit.

Mr. Hunter dislikes the fact that company-supported — forest research projects are industry: oriented, Without company-sup- ported research, where would the money come from to support forest: research? It would surely not come at the expense of health or education.

Mr. Hunter would do well to remember that he seeks to replace the Faculty of Forestry. Where faculty members intend (o teach undergraduates, Mr. Hunter seeks to enlighten the public. In his crit- icism of the faculty, he should be careful not to duplicate that which he is criticizing — ignorance!

Angus P. Allison, RPF North Vancouver

SB a a 327 Ste

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