I had an opportunity this weekend to participate in a clear-cut tour in the Ghost Valley with three representatives from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. I greatly appreciated them taking time out of their weekend to meet with myself and eleven others to better explain some forest management principles and forest regeneration practices. I was however disturbed by the conclusion I reached after our two-plus hours together.
It is now clear to me, that logging of our Eastern Slopes is guided by a set of generalized operating procedures; with minimal or no deviation to recognize varying conditions across a diverse and complex landscape.
• Clear-cut logging has been approved in Zones of Key Biodiversity (as recognized by the Alberta Government)
• Clear-cut logging has been approved in areas of Critical Wildlife Habitat (as recognized by the Alberta Government)
• Clear-cut logging has been approved in areas used for small tourism-based businesses with no consideration of its impact on these businesses.
• Clear-cut logging has been approved immediately adjacent to private landowners with no consideration for its impact on private lives/livelihoods or property values.
• Alberta Forestry hydrologists seem to consider only active rivers and streams with little or no recognition of the role played by pervasive seeps springs and wetlands dotting the Eastern Slopes.
• Clear-cut logging has been approved in areas recognized as having high hydrological value, despite being located upstream of 1.5 million water users.
• Reforestation practices have been standardized, regardless of slope, aspect, soil or hydrological conditions – regrowth is admittedly slow and sparse.
With logging in the Ghost Valley about to recommence at any time, I urgently request Alberta Agriculture and Forestry immediately pause these operations until a more detailed site-specific evaluation can be completed. Logging can be considered only when the short and long-term impacts of this planned and approved activity are fully understood.
I also urgently request Alberta Agriculture and Forestry provide forestry officials with the appropriate resources to conduct a more thorough evaluation of what is planned, in the Ghost Valley and across the Eastern Slopes, as well as the mandate /authority to halt and reconsider existing approvals and current harvest plans.
Sincerely,
Gordon MacMahon, MA, BSc
