Bid to halt logging fails

Page 3

A south central British Columbia band's attempt to limit logging near Vernon has failed to keep logging companies away from the trees.

The Okanagan Indian band revoked permission for Tolko Industries and Milestone Wood Products to use two reserve roads to reach a logging area northwest of the reserve.

Chief Albert Saddleman and council issued a statement to the B.C. government Jan. 20 outlining their concerns on the effects of over-harvesting on the local watershed. The band council resolution stated the band would forbid logging trucks on reserve roads unless:

- An independent assessment of the time supply in the harvested area was carried out.

- Community-related watershed zones in the northern Okanagan Lake region were established.

- The band was included in revenue sharing and forest management decision.

- Annual harvests in logging section TFL 49 were reduced 50 per cent until a study can be done to determine "appropriate" annual allowable cuts.

But both companies have by-passed the block and are reaching TFL 49 using roads outside the reserve's jurisdiction. The alternate routes involve longer travel times.

Okanagan band executive director Rhoda Rieder said permission to use the roads for hauling timer was revoked Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. Okanagan band residents were concerned about over-logging in the watershed north and west of the reserve.

Some band members were afraid that creeks in the area would dry up if too many trees were taken out, she said.

TFL 49, situated in an old-growth forest, currently has an annual allowable harvest rate of 380,000 cubic metres of lumber.

B.C. Ministry of Forests spokesman Bob Friesen said the province was willing to listen to the band's concerns, but talks would only resume when the road-use ban was lifted.

"We're not prepared to sit down with the band and talk while this closure is in effect," he said.

B.C. Forestry officials met with band members several months ago when the logging rights went on the auction block, Friesen said. A government committee heard the band's concerns over three watersheds near the reserve.

"The Ministry of forests responded to that and we had in the works some further hydrological assessments of the three watersheds," he said.

The ministry was also prepared to examine the effects of logging of three or four additional watersheds and the issues of co-management and harvest rates, Friesen said. Chief and council members wanted to meet with the government by Feb. 1, but no meetings are likely as long as the reserve roads remain off-limits to logging trucks.

"As the provincial government, we will examine the issues to see what progress

(is possible), but we don't like negotiating in an atmosphere in which it is not possible to negotiate."

Rieder said council is currently looking at other ways to make harvesting in the area more difficult. The band will look into the possibility of closing another road to keep logging trucks from reaching the saw mill in Armstrong, 15 kilometres north of Vernon.

"First we are going to take a closer look to see if we own the road," she said.

The Okanagan reserve is located on the northwest end of Okanagan Lake.