The Dakota Bowl Bear Sanctuary cut block contains stands of ancient trees including one that is estimated to be 1,036 years old.
That’s according to Environmental groups Elphinstone Logging Focus and Sierra Club BC who are calling on the B.C. government to direct its logging agency, B.C. Timber Sales, to cancel the proposed cut block located about 10 kilometres from Roberts Creek on Mount Elphinstone.
BC Timber Sales planned the block before it developed rules to set aside legacy and monumental trees.
Both Elphinstone Logging Focus and Sierra Club are calling for the province to cancel logging plans for the block and set it aside as an Old Growth Management Area with permanent boundaries to ensure long term protection.
Sierra Club’s Mark Worthing said targeting rare, endangered forests like this is akin to the trophy hunting of rare and endangered animal species.
BC Timber Sales says the cutblock’s legacy trees, those that are exceptionally large and old already have protected status already.
