BRidGe Lake Rodeo a CRowd pLeaSeR a21 JULY 10, 2013
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Timber shortage mitigation sought
Two sections, 48 pages
100milefreepress.net
RoCkiN’ Good TiMe
Carole Rooney Free Press
A recent report on the mid-term timber supply and the potential for a science-based review for opening up Cariboo Chilcotin Land Use Plan (CCLUP) was presented to District of 100 Mile House council on July 4. Rodger Stewart, director of resource operations for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), delivered the presentation and he began with a summary of the gravity of the regional situation. “The mountain pine beetle infestation has created a legacy in this region unlike what it has created anywhere else in the province.” He added this legacy has the potential to impact the economies of some of the most forest-dependant communities in the province – 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel. After extensive consultations with stakeholders and much deliberation, Stewart noted the provincial government’s Special Committee on Timber Supply kick started a dozen mitigation actions. The FLNRO followed through on those and released Beyond the Beetle: A Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan in October, and then conducted a series of meetings over the following months to determine how to best implement these actions. Stewart, who he heads up one of these initiatives, explained he is to investigate potential for a sciencebased review (SBR) of opening land-use plans. Now, he is travelling around the region spreading the word and gathering input on what this SBR might involve. Armed with a 28-page report, Mid-Term Timber Supply in the Cariboo: Preliminary Assessment of Three Land Use Values, he noted the key values are Old Growth Management Areas, Mule Deer Winter Range and Visual Quality Areas. (The report is linked at www.quesnelrodandgun. ca under the heading of April 12.) Whether these areas get opened up in the CCLUP will be up to B.C. Liberal government, but Stewart noted it must first decide whether to approve proceeding with the SBR, by this fall. Stewart said that decision will be made once he and his team have completed and summarized all their consultations on the potential for a sciencebased review to go forward. This summary process is expected to be ongoing until late July. Continued on A3
Karen Schuurman photo
The weatherman co-operated as folks came from near and far to enjoy this year’s Lone Butte Rocks event on July 6. Cheyenne Nelson, left, holding Anna Melin, Clayton Nelson who was pulling Sam Melin in the wagon all enjoyed the various activities available for youth participation.