More than 100 people gathered at the Bragg Creek Community Centre to attend a Sustain Kananaskis town hall meeting regarding plans for clear-cut logging in West Bragg Creek, April 18.
The professionally facilitated meeting featured four speakers and a question and answer period in an effort to raise awareness and as a demonstration of how a public consultation process - something organizers are demanding - could proceed.
ìOur goal has been to push for increased public consultation,î said Peter Tucker of Sustain Kananaskis. Tucker added that although both Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) and Spray Lakes Sawmills (SLS) were invited to speak at the event, they declined.
SRDís plans to log 1,700 acres of trees in the West Bragg Creek Recreation Area this summer were first revealed at an open house nearly three months ago. The logging plan will have a direct impact on 90 per cent of the areaís local trails, according to Sustain Kananaskisí website.
Since then, residents and users have expressed frustration at the departmentís apparent refusal to answer questions and provide information. A Sustain Kananaskis event held earlier this year drew hundreds.
Ecologist Dr. Ralph Cartar, Robert Sadee of the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association (GBCTA), Mike Murray of the Elbow River Watershed Partnership and Brad Stelfox, a land ecologist and longtime resident, spoke on a variety of topics.
Cartarís presentation focused on scientific data that he argued proved logging would not result in fewer or less intense fires, a claim touted by SRD as the main reason behind the proposed clear cutting.
According to Cartar, selectively removing old growth forests, mainly lodge pole pine in this case, will not keep the community safe from fires.
ìMost of the (statements) made about logging for fire suppression are unsupported or contradicted by science,î said Cartar. ìLogging wonít reduce the fire risk.î
Sadee explained the negotiations that have been taking place between the GBCTA, SRD and SLS in an attempt to create treed buffer zones for trail users.
According to Sadee, in January the group asked for 11 of the 15 kilometres of trails affected by the logging to be surrounded by a 100-metre wide buffer zone.
On March 7, SRD eliminated about 50 per cent of the requested trails, after which GBCTA submitted a shortened, more selective list of what the group considers critical terrain to receive buffering. The response, given by SLS, was to request SRD arbitrate.
ìSLS has declined any further meetings or public consultation,î said Sadee. ìWe are done for now, I guess.î
Stelfoxís presentation focused on external pressures to the area.
ìWeíll get nowhere talking to SLS, (it) is a slave to Alberta Forestry,î he said. ìWeíve got to force a change in the structure of Alberta Forestry.î
Several residents spoke out during the open mike session including resident Rick Brown, who asked if anyone had a plan to delay or stop the logging until more discussion occurs.
ìThe dialogue is just getting startedÖ meantime SLS is sitting back getting bulldozers ready to go this summer,î he said. ìWhat is the process going forward to try to get our collective voice heard?î
Sadee responded by saying ìI would keep up the pressure from the public to the politicians.î
Andrew Pratt, a 16-year resident who works in the regionís tourist industry, said West Bragg Creek and Kananaskis should be protected.
ìWe live in one of the worldís greatest outdoor playgrounds,î he said. ìIt should be a recreation reserve and left that way.î
Several politicians spoke out at the meeting including Ted Morton who promised he would use his influence to delay the logging.
ìI am more than disappointed with both SRD and SLS,î he said.
ìWe canít go on with just business as usual on the eastern slopes. I will use all the influence I have in an attempt to make sure there is no additional logging done in West Bragg Creek. This is good economic policy, the dollar value of tourism is frankly higher than logging.î
Banff-Cochrane liberal candidate Peter Helfrich chastised Morton for politicizing the forum.
ìIt think it is terrible for you to come here unannounced and make those kind of comments in the middle of an election,î he said.
Stelfox ended the two-and-a-half hour meeting by saying the public is responsible for coming up with a clear plan to present to the Alberta government.
ìIf we want something done, we have got to do it,î he said.
ìThe problem isnít (the politicians) it is us.î
