Re: “Forests Ministry pushing grizzlies to extinction,” comment, Sept. 25.
The B.C. Forests Ministry clearly has an inherent conflict of interest in its mandate. On the one hand, it is responsible for managing grizzly bear and wildlife habitat and, on the other hand, it is responsible for attaining timber objectives at unsustainable rates of logging. The present forest legislation says that timber overrides all other forest values.
So timber always wins, and grizzlies and other wildlife always lose. Is this what we want happening on our publicly owned forest lands?
There is no time to lose in stopping widespread extinction of wildlife and self-destructive rates of logging, both of which are destroying B.C.’s reputation in the world and our quality of life.
British Columbians need to demand forest legislation that protects all forest values, laws that ensure a sustainable future for our forests, our wildlife and our communities. It is time to stop this madness and to stop running off the cliff.
Vicky Husband
Victoria
