Cathedral Grove Protection Action
Phil Carson, February 11th, 2004
On Monday morning a couple of disgruntled British Columbians
stood firm to prevent one of the towering giants from feeling
the bite of the chain saw in Gordon Campbell government's attempt
to make the world safe for Winnebagos. I was one of them. The
towering Douglas Fir that was slated to fall had been designated
a hazard tree adjacent to the new parking lot. If every tree
that represents a potential danger to the pedestrians meets
the same fate as those that threaten vehicles, Cathedral Grove
will end up looking more like a Saskatchewan landscape than
a Temperate Rain Forest.
Our action to stop the murder of a Cathedral is about protecting
a majestic and spiritually inspiring work of nature. It is also
about protecting democracy. It is about confronting short-sighted
mindless economics. It is about providing a future for our children.
I hope Cathedral Grove becomes a international rallying point
for resistance to governments that seem to care more about the
stock portfolios of foreign investors than the interest of their
citizens.
Cathedral Grove has stood for thousands of years. Individual
trees were standing for 500 years before Columbus arrived in
the Americas. The problems our Cathedral is encountering are
caused by inappropriate human activity not nature. Destructive
forest practices are the major problem. Clearcutting steep unstable
slopes that experience 10 feet of rainfall a year drastically
alters the hydrology and impacts on all living things including
the ancient trees. Clearcutting the valley bottoms allow the
winds to funnel between the mountains and slam up against the
giant trees. Any policy that is going to protect this international
treasure must address forest practices. Without addressing adjacency
issues there will not be a grove. The Weyerhaeuser's of the
world may prefer that the public never know what a natural forest
ever looked like so they can get on with their agenda for turning
our island into a genetically modified tree plantation. They
are doing a pretty good job of knocking out the few pockets
of old growth still left standing on our precious island.
The safety issue that is being used to justify a 'development
by parking meter' government economic policy is completely bogus.
The parking lot will be creating more traffic congestion and
highway safety problems than it solves. The entrance to the
parking lot is on a blind corner. Many ancient trees are slated
to come down to overcome the blind corner and inadequate sight
lines. The majority of the traffic will be forced to make 2
left turns across the flow of traffic.
The solution to the safety challenges is very simple, 'Traffic
Calming'. Traffic is already slowed to 40 kilometre at the base
of the Beaufort Mountains. Continuing a 50 kilometre speed limit
through the few kilometres of the grove for the busy summer
months would eliminate 90% if the safety concerns. Other modifications
like a a pedestrian overpass would eliminate the other 10% and
cost less than the 2 million dollar parking lot. Trying to generate
a few bucks by installing parking meters is not sound economics.
It alienates the tourists and visiting public on whom prosperity
is built. If the government was serious about sustainable eco
tourism it would looking at reducing visitor stress on the grove
and increasing visitor awareness and appreciation by providing
an off-site interpretative Center. Introducing visitors to the
grove through the magic of remote video cameras would make the
visit to the Grove more informed and less intrusive. Appreciating
the complexity and wonders of eco-systems and soils makes them
less likely to be trampled.
The politicians know were the people stand on this poorly thought
out parking lot proposal. Two years ago hundreds of local people
were turning out to public meetings to express their concerns.
Meetings took place with parks representatives were alternatives
were discussed. Resurrecting the old plan with very minor modifications
without public input is simply not acceptable.
The public interest is being as trampled as the fragile ecosystem.
Look around. Our ferries, our energy, our railways, our highways,
our parks, our health care, our forests, our common heritage
is being robbed. Our democracy is being hijacked. If we can't
protect our sacred places like Cathedral Grove we are in trouble
as a province. Where is our local MLA Judith Reid ex Minister
of Highways. Why did give up her cabinet portfolio to become
a backbencher? What's going on in her office with this business
of criminal investigations? Where is Gordon Campbell? If he
is so worried about highway safety that he's willing to cut
down the ancient trees in Cathedral Grove why does he get behind
the wheel of an automobile totally drunk?
I for one am not going to step aside and allow the chain saws
to wreck their havoc. I insist on some answers. I ran as a Green
Candidate in the last provincial election in Parksville Nanaimo
and am sure I speak for my constituency. Cathedral Grove is
an international treasure. It's not just me. The people of British
Columbia and the people of the world demand answers before anymore
chain saws whine into life.
Phil Carson
Bamfield, BC
728-3547
