Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
Native Information
Settingup within the fall of 2026, logging corporate West Fraser plans on clear-cutting in parcels totaling just about 900 hectares of jungle within the West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain grounds
Article content material
Log harvester West Fraser mentioned the evident area Wednesday that drew a immense folk was once to allay fears over its plans to uncomplicated in a frequent leisure field similar Bragg Creek, and to pack enter on the way it’ll be performed.
However for some who got here to query corporate staffers, maximum clad in inexperienced golfing shirts and soaring over maps of the centered grounds, the development on the Cochrane RancheHouse left extra questions and issues.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
“There’s an opportunity for the company to get it right but (they) view it as a checkmark they have to do in order to harvest and smooth over those concerns until people realize they were legitimate,” mentioned Shaun Peter with Bragg Creek & Kananaskis Outside Rest.
Mins previous, Peter and alternative logging critics queried West Fraser Alberta important forester Richard Briand about how the corporate will advance about logging two grounds west of Bragg Creek, establishing in about 2½ years.
He informed Briand the corporate must practice the top of alternative business customers who’ve rights within the field however have selected to not workout them because of social and environmental pressures.
He advised West Fraser ask the provincial executive to shop for out their logging rights to the field to saving it.
“For you to come with us to the government would be a way for all of us to win,” Peter informed Briand, who was once noncommittal.
Stated Briand: “I appreciate your passion … I’m glad you came.”
Unhidden area a part of required folk session for logging plan
Settingup within the fall of 2026, logging corporate West Fraser plans on clear-cutting in parcels totaling just about 900 hectares of jungle within the West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain grounds which are laced with mountain climbing, cycling and snowboarding trails and thought to be a short-drive out of doors mecca for Calgarians.
Midday Information Roundup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
It’s a part of the corporate’s logging rights contained in a 20-year forestry control guarantee that runs alongside a lot of the area of Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills.
Overdue closing hour, Alberta Order and Safe Gardens Minister Rebecca Schulz mentioned logging authorized by means of her executive should meet stringent environmental requirements and go through complete folk session, together with Wednesday’s evident area.
“We always have to balance economic opportunity with holding up our highest environmental standards, and of course tourism and the mountains are something Albertans and the rest of the world see as one of our most precious resources,” she mentioned.
At Wednesday’s evident area, West Fraser Forests Supervisor Tyler Steneker mentioned the corporate is progressive to just do that, including the folk session procedure is way over window dressing.
“We are truly sincere in saying we want meaningful engagement — we’ve already met with mountain bike groups and we’ve committed to going to the trails and walking it with them,” mentioned Steneker, who considers himself an avid mountain biker.
Commercial 4
Article content material
“It’s about discussing how much of a buffer there’ll be (between logging blocks and trails) — it’s feeling it, not just staring at maps.”
‘We’re right here to have significant conversations for accessible pieces’: West Fraser
Of greater than 300 kilometres of trails within the two grounds, logging would overlap not more than seven km in line with the tide plan, and that the ones interactions have frequently lowered over two stages of making plans.
And of the allowable logging field, normally 30 to 40 in line with cent is immune by means of the corporate for harvesting because of numerous causes, together with folk enter.
Beneficial from Editorial
Order minister provides eco-assurances in clear-cutting of Bragg Creek-area idleness mecca
Pushback wanted towards drawing close logging of frequent Bragg Creek idleness field, say combatants
Conservationists drizzle logging reprieve for Kananaskis Nation’s Higher Highwood field
“There are zero ribbons (to denote logging) in the field today,” mentioned Steneker, including there’ll be any other evident area the next day in Blairmore and indistinguishable gatherings over the then two years.
“Our actions will show we’re here to have meaningful conversations for obtainable items … we may not all be happy with it but it’s something we can live with.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
West Fraser officers mentioned it’s too early to decide the quantity of wood they’ll harvest from the grounds or how a lot it’ll be significance.
Being in near proximity of clear-cuts impacts trails: advocates
Peter wondered whether or not the problem of assembly folk expectancies and averting significantly harmful a path community that has obvious $6.5 million invested in it is going to be financially profitable for West Fraser.
Because it’s lately introduced, the logging plan would no longer most effective overlap trails, however Peter mentioned it could loose many others in near proximity of clear-cuts.
“A lot of trails would be on the block edge, having a very unsightly landscape right next to you, but they don’t consider that to have affected the trail,” mentioned Peter.
Jeff Woodgate mentioned his Bragg Creek mountain motorbike training, guiding and shuttling corporate can be simply one of the crucial native tourism-oriented companies negatively suffering from the logging.
“My business could muddle through but as a personal user of these trails I’m going to be hugely affected,” he mentioned.
The gang GROW Kananaskis is protecting a protest hike/motorbike on the Moose Mountain Highway Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn
Article content material
Proportion this newsletter for your social community
