TL: LOGGING VIOLATIONS, CLAYOQUOT SOUND BC, SUMMARY
SO: Greenpeace Canada (GP)
DT: July 26, 1994
Keywords: forests bc canada logging regulations violations
effects clearcuts rainforests greenpeace summary gp /

Note: this is the Executive Summary to a longer report
which lists in detail the logging violations in the
ancient forests of Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia,
Canada.

A field study commissioned by Greenpeace was conducted to
determine whether or not current logging practices on Vancouver
Island, in particular in Clayoquot Sound, were in compliance with
current guidelines and standards.  Only active and/or
recently logged cutblocks (since October 1992) were examined.
Field reviews were conducted in May, June and July 1994.
Logging company performance was assessed to determine compliance
with the 3rd Edition B.C. Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines
(October 1992).  In addition, an attempt was made to determine
whether the logging companies were in compliance with the terms
and conditions of their Cutting Permits and/or site-specific
prescriptions as set down by government regulatory agencies.

In all, 10 randomly chosen cutblocks, all in proximity to
fish-bearing waters, were inspected.  It was determined that
there was at least one minor or major infraction of the B.C.
Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines on every single cutblock
reviewed.  Minor infractions related primarily to causing or
permitting a few trees to enter a creek, while major infractions
included:

Failure to classify streams

Mis-classification of streams

Clear-cutting of Class A fish streams

Inadequate leave strips on Class A fish streams

Lack of road maintenance

Inadequate drainage control on logging roads

Poor gully management

Improper bridge building

Improper road building

Failure to properly put roads to bed following logging

In addition, potential infractions were noted which may have
violated other regulatory agency approval documents and
environmental legislations, including:

Cutting Permits

Pre-harvest silviculture prescriptions

Road Building Permits

B.C Forestry Act

Federal Fisheries Act

A set of 6 recommendations was put forth to help ameliorate these
problems.  They are summarized as follows:

Forest companies should be required to provide regulatory
agencies with detailed site assessment reports concerning fish
and wildlife use of proposed harvest areas to assist regulatory
personnel in making informed decisions.

Forest companies should be required to retain Registered
Professional Biologists to conduct fish and wildlife assessments
in proposed harvest areas.

Provincial and Federal governments should provide adequate
funding to regulatory agencies as to make them effective.

The B.C. Government should adopt U.S. Forest Service riparian
management zone standards for the Pacific Northwest to protect
fish habitat.

Forest companies should be required to put all abandoned roads to
bed to control erosion and landsliding problems.

Areas that are not yet harvested but were approved for
harvesting before guidelines and standards were implemented
should be logged according to the new guidelines.