By Dominic Abassi

Group wants better balance in Lantzville forest; Province has ‘no plans’ for changes

Mar 21, 2017 | 4:27 PM

NANAIMO — The provincial government is not striking the right balance between logging and conservation, according to a group fighting to save a chunk of a Lantzville woodlot.

Save Lantzville Forest has taken a new proposal to the province, asking for about 150 acres of the roughly 600 acre woodlot in upper Lantzville to be set aside for conservation and recreation.

“I think as a society we’re realizing that intact forests that are close to a lot of people have a higher value than turning them into 2×4’s,” the group’s Ted Gullison said. “We’re not saying there shouldn’t be any logging, we’re just saying there should be a better balance between conservation, recreation and industry in this particular forest. It’s globally endangered and there’s tens of thousands of people that live within a 10 minute drive of it.”

Gullison, who has a PhD in ecology and works with industrial sectors to achieve biodiversity conservation, told NanaimoNewsNOW they are focusing on a 100 metre buffer around Knarston Creek. He said the area is home to the majority of the mature Coastal Douglas-fir trees in the woodlot. He said the trees’ ecosystem is the “most endangered” in B.C.

Gullison said the popularity of the Crown land as a recreational area has grown steadily.

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“We don’t think logging the whole thing is the best economic value for the forest…yes, you can still hike in a logged forest, but it’s a completely different experience to be hiking through clear-cuts as it is to be hiking through mature forest,” he said.

About a year ago, the group lobbied to have the entire area of Woodlot 1475 preserved, something Gullison said the provincial government was not interested in.

Gullison and several others had a meeting with Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell earlier this month.

Stilwell said she believed there was a good balance between industry and recreation in the woodlot, noting the 10 km of trails registered with the District of Lantzville. That trail system is complimented by many new routes created by users, including one which winds up a ridge to a little-known waterfall.

Gullison concedes the woodlot’s licence holder, John Gregson, has done a good job of communicating his logging plans with the community and is doing an “even better job” than is required in managing the lot.

Gregson said in his view everyone has been co-existing and he’s gone “above and beyond” to accommodate recreational uses, which include many unsanctioned trails.

“It’s public land, which is great. Other than the time we’re in there logging, people can go in and use it,” Gregson said.

In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations stated “The recreation opportunities and riparian areas are being managed by the woodlot licence and the ministry has no plans to cancel or change the boundaries of the woodlot licence.

“The woodlot licensee has also developed good relations with the public through the Lantzville Woodlot Advisory Group which provides community input on the woodlot,” the statement said.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi