Photo: Elisabeth von Ah
BC‘s unique rainforest has already lost 50% of its origin size due to clearcut logging, road building, resort building, farming.
Remaining untouched areas are fragmented by development.
Roads and high traffic make it dangerous and sometimes impossible for wildlife to move from one area to another.
Photo: Elisabeth von Ah
Photo: Elisabeth von Ah
Steep slopes which have been clear cut are at high risk to produce mud slides and avalanches.
Mud slides pollute clear rivers and can destroy a whole population of fish eggs, juvenile fish, and adult fish in one moment.
Burning branches and remaining wood after clearcutting pollutes air with dust, smoke and poisenous gases.
Animals already driven out of their home might flee the whole area.
Photo: Elisabeth von Ah
Photo: Greg Utig
Clearcuts produce new plants and shrubs which provide food and easy access for deer, elk and moose who usually avoid dense rainforests.
These animals are followed by predators like black and brown bears, cougars, wolves.
To hunt more predators to protect mountain caribou as some people demand is the wrong action. Both, predators and caribou are victims of clearcut logging and loss of their habitat on the long term.
Photo: Tom Prior