Yellow Cedar

On 2021-11-25 at 1:40 PM, David Broadland said:

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for joining us and for your comments in your two posts. To help the ministry and political officials change their minds about the dire direction they are taking us,  I believe its vital for those with long experience in the ministry to give voice to their doubts. Thank you for coming forward.

Hi Kevin, feel free to email me at benbarclay@golden.net. I'm working on how much biomass is lost in a clearcut through clearcutting primary forest through a 40-60-80 year cutting cycle. As well as total biomass, also: ecosystem services, like extreme fire suppression, flood control, beetle resilience, water management or retention. I sense you could help me do the math. It would be amazing to come up with some basic numbers for different ecosystems, and planting success rates.

Could form the basis of a lawsuit seeking an injunction against clearcutting and cutting old growth.

PS: I planted 300,000 trees in the 1980's. You and I were thinking the exact same thoughts, from different ends of the situation, lol.

Ah, the truth is so sweet, like a clear, clean drink of water from a mountain stream.

Suzanne Simard demonstrated to us down at Fairy Creek last month, that 2nd growth only contains 40% the biomass of primary forest, even after it "grows back". Biomass includes topsoil, roots, mycorrizhae, humus, moss, wood, etc.

So those clearcut patches that keep growing like cancers on the screen in the time lapse video, even when they green up, have less than 40% the capacity of primary forests, or even well managed forests, to retain moisture. Before they green up, almost no biomass. Over a 60 year re-cut period, plantations probably average 20%.

So that means we have 25 million hectares of what industry calls we call "fibre inventory" in BC that is only operating at 20% capacity to retain moisture.

Conversely, I live in a primary, indeed primeval forest.  In the summer heat dome, air temperature was 26C under the canopy. Lightning struck, no fire started. This fall, we had more rain than ever since Sept 1, an inch a day at times. 2-3 storms, with winds 50-70 mph.

Not one tree fell. No erosion anywhere.

To paraphrase the sharks in Finding Nemo, repeat after me: "Forests are Friends, not Fibre".

How is this supposed to retain moisture? (TJ Watt photo).

Hi - fabulous article, thanks. Could you please put a link to the legislation in, and add a map defining this "coastal" range, and a chart of tree species and diameters, at what height off the ground? We'd like to measure the Grandfather Tree at Fairy Creek, and others.

Is the new legislation just on BCTS land?

Last time I was in Cathedral Grove, most of it had blown down. The sign board says: "Windfall is a natural event". Next time I go through I'm taking a magic marker and writing "Yes, but not this windfall, which was caused by clearcutting the whole valley to ribbons."

Forests need to be forests, not postage stamps.

On 2021-09-23 at 8:52 AM, Guest Don Heppner said:

I would add another factor.  There is a lot of dead dried fuel in those forests now due to previous bark beetle infestations. There is not an easy solution.

Hi Don, the bark beetles have been co-existing with pine trees for 70 million years. The deadly mix of clearcutting, monoculture planting, and global warming (which is caused by clearcutting), have triggered the bark beetle catastrophe we are experiencing.

Banning clearcutting is the simple, and in fact, only solution to bark beetle imbalance. Agreed it will take time to fix, but "the longest journey is the one not started".

In the meantime, heavy planting and only partial cutting of the dead trees would help, instead of just re-starting the clearcutting cycle ad nauseum. cheers

15 hours ago, Guest Not Horgan..or any other said:

Friends: it is a mistake to personalize what is essentially a political issue. The economic system demands eternal growth, even at the cost of eco-systems and human lives, it is the nature of a capitalist model of destruction, without that mantra the system would collapse, it is a contradiction: develop and grow to the point of self destruction. Horgan et-all are just mere gate keepers, a sort of caretakers of our economic model. We can remove Horgan, bring someone else, or someone else, someone else...no matter, they are all caretakers.

We need to denounce and change this economic model based on exploitation of humans and destruction of the environment. Sadly we keep concentrating on fighting personalities and protecting this valley, that valley or that specie without addressing the main causes of destruction.

John Horgan could pass the legislation that would replace the suicidal economic model you mention, and replace it with something truly sustainable and respectful. That is why we elect leadership. Seems to make sense to invite him. What's your plan for changing the system without involving the BC legislature?

10 hours ago, Guest rcs said:

And many BC residents payed their bills, bought groceries for their families and another tree has been planted to be harvested in the future. 

 

All we are saying, is to switch those jobs from harvesting old growth to second growth, and clearcutting to 100% biomass retention forestry. That will bring us more jobs, and more provincial income. A tiny seedling does not replace a 1,000 year old tree. A monoculture plantation does not replace a forest. This is not about "Jobs vs The Environment", this is about whether we are going to give our children a dead planet to live on, or not. The old growth will be gone in 8 years. Why not stop now?  Give this a read: https://www.straight.com/news/ben-barclay-will-fairy-creek-become-a-turning-point-in-human-history

best wishes

Great article. Clearcutting got us into this mess. Single tree selective forestry will get us out of it.

I live in a primeval forest in Clayoquot Sound, where there is no fire threat. Lightning struck near my cabin the other night, but I was able to simply enjoy the elemental thrill. The densest biomass per square metre on the planet holds moisture. The full canopy protects the soil from fully drying out. The thick bark keeps the big old trees safe. There are no brushpiles, no monoculture plantations jammed with conifers to burn like a torch. No need for "chainsaw medicine". 

The Menominee Nation have been practicing 100% biomass retention forestry for 130 years on their reserve in Wisconsin and have never had an extreme fire. And still the NDP won't sit down and talk with Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones at Fairy Creek. He's my favourite forester. Here's one of his gems:

"You don't go up to the forest to cut it down, you go up to ask the great mother what she wants you to do".

Great stuff Herb. I have a suggestion: that we don't use arbitrary goals like "50% of current AAC", and instead take a science based approach and limit AAC to 75% of growth in mature forests, and 40% of growth in recovering clearcuts, (until they recover), based on pre-contact levels. cheers Ben

On 2021-08-15 at 11:05 PM, Guest Savagery at Fairy Creek! said:

This heart rending article tells of the savagery by the RCMP  at Fairy Creek!

It really is. There was a sexual assault yesterday, of the same kind that got New York Governor Cuomo removed. Who polices the police?

On 2021-08-17 at 5:16 AM, Guest Cathie Reid said:

Disgusted by these RCMP actions as reported. What are the accountability mechanisms at the Federal level to hold those authorising these RCMP actions...and the Province  accountable for upholding judicial rulings?

Sadly, the federal RCMP "Complaint Department" is a glorified wastebasket, and Trudeau met Horgan recently in Nanaimo and didn't say a word. We should stop reacting to the injunction, and take Horgan and the RCMP to court, imho. We still have an independent judiciary in Canada, but we're not using it.   

It is fair to call it BC's deforestation industry. The solution to Fairy Creek is to stop arguing about shakes or guitars, and pass legislation criminalising the cutting of old growth. The loggers can all move over in TFL-46 and cut the second growth. It won't cost anything to do that.

On 2021-06-06 at 1:34 PM, Guest Guest Alistair said:

How do you see the situation unfolding over the next few weeks? Once school holidays start I would love to join you. Happy to be arrested for a good cause. Keep up the great work. Keep writing.

Hi Alistair, my next next post will be a primer on how to "come on down", after I profile two tree sitters. Thanks. JH has no intention of calling a ceasefire to create a peaceful environment for rational discussion. We aren't leaving until we get legislation banning the cutting of any old growth. It won't be over for a while. The police weirdness is settling a bit, as they realise we have resources and backup. 1,500 people came out for the day last Saturday! Not enough paddy wagons in BC for that. 

Every person I have talked to here has found it a deeply moving, personal experience. Lots of friends to make, and conversations to have. It is a special time. I like your fearless attitude!

We have a circle each night to meet up, chat, pat the dogs, and listen to speakers who drop by. Enjoy!

For his absolute betrayal of forests and people, it is time for the electorate to clearcut John Horgan's political career. We'll leave standing the two of his clan who have resisted him, to help re-seed for the future. That's the only way to teach the man just how long clearcuts take to grow back.

3 hours ago, Guest Old Human said:

This is a very thoughtful, encouraging piece. I will try to show my support for the trees and indigenous people by showing up at Fairy Creek. Thank you!

Dear Old Human, thank you! Thoughtful is me, and thoughtful is FOCUSmagazine. See you there.

Humans need leadership.

Bill Jones is one of our great elders. Listening to his teachings is like drinking water. I love that his invitation to come and join with our family members in Ada'itsx (Fairy Creek) begins and ends with the exhortation to:

Walk in the Woods. 

17 hours ago, Guest Diana Gallivan said:

What about the RCMP complaints commission?? Are people reporting all this? And to what reaction?

I'm sorry to say, that citizens don't have the time, or the faith in the process. I wanted to walk right back in to the detachment and report my abduction by a gang. What we need to be able to do, is lay criminal charges, like assault. Canada doesn't have that option. That was my anguish: "Who ya gonna call?"

12 hours ago, Guest Terry Harding said:

I was in that police wagon with you . Separated by the steel wall with the hole to the other compartments . I was not planning on being arrested but found I was not willing to back down . I am still processing the experience, deeply affected on many levels .I am more determined than ever now to stick with this fight . 

My heart goes out to you. I shook and cried for days after. Sure is challenging, especially with so much at stake.