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A great swath of beautiful forest has been cut down along Hoylake Road by Arbutus Road. Apparently a paved pathway is being put down. Yesterday on our walk, so many residents were stopped and shocked at the devastation. As well, a heron colony, has been exposed; removing the protection of the fir trees that were growing bedside it ! Every year we see and hear the heron feeding their young in that colony. The trees were protecting them from the eagles and now the eagles, should the herons return, will have full view and access to the young herons. What shocked allot of us was the fact that a very wide and easily accessible trail already exists on the other side of the road from where they are now making another trail. This trail could easily have been paved without removing any trees. It is a very well used trail but mostly by seniors in the walking club, residents walking to town, dog walkers, etc. We seldom see children using the trail to walk or ride their bikes to school. Needless to say, the new trail, what with removal of trees, paving, etc. etc. must be costing a vast amount of money. Paving the existing trail would not have cost one eighth of the amount they are paying for the new trail; plus why do we need two trails???? No one was informed of the trail; I am sure Q.B. did that to avoid negativity.
Is Qualicum Beach so wealthy that they just take tax payers money and spend it on something completely unnecessary ? I doubt that. It is a little too late now to do much about this issue. But yesterday on our walk we noticed that across the street from the old train station another swath of trees is marked with big blue x’s and the area goes on behind an existing home and onto Harlech Road. We wonder what the intentions are there ! Gaye and John Mossey, Balsam Street. Q.B. We received this email from Joanne Sales and thought it important enough to share with you.
HI Friends. Here is the link to the BC government Old Growth Forest Questionnaire. https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/747451?lang=en 1. Below, you will find a list of the questions in the questionnaire. 2. Below that are some ideas of what you might want to include in your answer. YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT: As of Nov 8, only 1O53 people filled out the questionnaire. The survey was even discussed on CBC. It’s important and you are important. The Old Growth Forests are REALLY important. https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/747451?lang=en Subject: Re: Rare opportunity to protect even rarer forests Old Growth Forest Questionnaire On July 17, 2019, the Government of British Columbia announced that a two-person panel had been appointed to lead an Old Growth Strategic Review and provide a report to the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Garry Merkel, a professional forester, natural resource expert, and member of the Tahltan Nation, and Al Gorley, a professional forester and former chair of the Forest Practices Board, will engage the public to hear perspectives on the ecological, economic and cultural importance of old-growth trees and forests. They will report back to government in spring 2020 with recommendations that are expected to inform a new approach to old-growth management for British Columbia. In addition to visiting communities, the panel is providing an opportunity for the public, organizations and professionals to share their thoughts on old-growth in B.C. The ways to participate are: 1. Complete the online questionnaire. 2. Organizations, professionals, and other interested parties may submit a written submission. Read the Guidelines for Written Submissions. 3. Send an email to oldgrowthbc@gov.bc.ca Feedback is open until January 31, 2020 at 4 p.m. https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/747451?lang=en Below: A copy of the Old Growth Forest Questionnaire so you can see how easy it will be. Below That: A devoted forest protector/friend filled out possible answers to stimulate your thinking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Old Growth Forest Questionnaire 1. What does the term “old growth” mean to you? 2. What are the three main reason you feel old growth forests are important? Choices: They contain rare of big trees. They support biodiversity. They provide habitat for wildlife and fish. They support traditional spiritual and cultural uses. They generate tourism and can be used for recreation. They provide economic benefits for timber harvesting. They regulate water storage and flow. They store carbon to mitigate climate change. 3. How important is it to weigh environmental, social, cultural, and economic interests together when managing old growth? 4. What do you consider to be the THREE greatest risk(s) to old growth? 5. How important do you feel the following plans, policies and practices are in MANAGING old growth in British Columbia? 6. Are there any other plans, policies or practices you feel are important but that are not mentioned here? Please provide any thoughts. 7. Other than the provincial government and First Nations, who do you feel should be actively involved with decision making about the future of old growth forests in British Columbia? 8. Where do you learn about old growth forests and their management? 9. Do you have any further thoughts about old growth management in B.C.? Please tell us more. END ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Old Growth Forest Questionnaire with ideas for your answers: Use your own words. 1. What does the term “old growth” mean to you? Trees more than 250 years old 2. What are the three main reason you feel old growth forests are important? All are important, but the three most important could be: They support biodiversity. They regulate water storage and flow. They store carbon to mitigate climate change. 3. How important is it to weigh environmental, social, cultural, and economic interests together when managing old growth? There is no life without environment, so environment has to be number 1. Economies can and should be rebuilt, but remaining old growth is absolutely irreplaceable. 4. What do you consider to be the THREE greatest risk(s) to old growth? Log exports, clear cut logging, urban sprawl, corporate greed. 5. How important do you feel the following plans, policies and practices are in MANAGING old growth in British Columbia? Practices are destructive, plans and policies are inadequate. Current plans and policies are inadequate and do little to nothing to protect the forests for the future and for our children. British Columbia government must do better. 6. Are there any other plans, policies or practices you feel are important but that are not mentioned here? Please provide any thoughts. We have gone beyond managing Old Growth and need an immediate moratorium on Old Growth harvesting. 7. Other than the provincial government and First Nations, who do you feel should be actively involved with decision making about the future of old growth forests in British Columbia? Climate scientists, ecologists, NGO's 8. Where do you learn about old growth forests and their management? Internet, news media etc.?? 9. Do you have any further thoughts about old growth management in B.C.? People come from all over the world to see our forests because there are no other comparable Old Growth Forests in the world. Old Growth Forests provide oxygen, plant and animal biodiversity, water purification and water storage. Old Growth Forests are vital to human life. There is no longer an opportunity to “manage” Old Growth Forests because there is so little old growth forest left. An immediate moratorium of harvesting Old Growth Forests must be established until some of our older forests reach 250 years old. Hopefully by then humans will figure out how to harvest forests without destroying entire ecosystems. YOU CAN ALSO GET INFORMATION FROM SIERRA CLUB WEBSITE: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/rainforestisland/?fbclid=IwAR3rpTqqJwMD7ZJcqXk6xQ6QB5SEMErn1WrT9DFlewRoT6u1X0cx9UyS2Jo The Annual General Meeting of the Qualicum Beach Residents Association will take place on Saturday, October 26 at 2:00 pm at the East Hall of the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. The meeting will be to hear reports, vote on changes to the bylaws and rules, and elect a new board.
The BC Coastal Wildfire Service puts out an excellent newsletter. As well as outlining the current fires and fire danger, there are interesting articles such as how to determine the causes of a fire or how to reduce the chance oI your home being caught in a fire. am posting the most recent one here along with a couple of back copies. We will post them as they become available in the future so keep your eyes on this spot.
Check it out at https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/dwwp-action-plan-update-2019
The RDN is revising its 10 year old Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Plan. There is a survey on the site. Qualicum Beach – The Wilderness Committee Mid Island is inviting the public to their 20th annual Qualicum Beach Earth Day tour to Canada's 3rd tallest Sitka Spruce tree along the banks of the Little Qualicum River, this Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 pm.
“Over the years, this grand 60-hectare Coastal Douglas-fir forest has been referred to as the Qualicum Beach Salmon Forest, as the forest protects the water in the river for the annual migration of all 7 species of salmon as well as the important role of providing the drinking water for the Town of Qualicum Beach and the community of Dashwood, explains Annette Tanner, organizer of the tour. “We are especially happy this year to have invited documentary film maker, Richard Boyce, www.vancouverislandstories.ca as our guest Earth Day tour guide,” continues Tanner. Location: The approximate 2-hour tour will meet at the Faye Smith Memorial View Point beside the beach at the foot of Crescent Rd. West and the Old Island Highway at 1:00 pm. By donation and please wear good foot gear. Info: 250-752-6585. Airport Citizen Comments (APRIL 1st)
The Following Is A Summary Of Questions And Points Of Concern Raised By Members Of The Community At Both Meetings. Both Meetings Were Well Attended. 10:00 Am Meeting
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AuthorMembers and friends of QBRA are invited to write blogs on our site. Contact qbra@shaw.ca. Archives
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