The fight over logging on Gambier Island isn’t going to court… yet.
The Gambier Island Conservancy and a Gambier landowner were preparing to ask the BC Supreme Court to order a judicial review of the province’s decision to award 2 woodlot licenses on Crown land, but the Ministry of Forests has agreed to hold off.
The Conservancy is quoting the following message it got Tuesday from the Ministry. “…we have decided to delay our decision of identifying the successful woodlot licensees for a few weeks. We believe we have followed the appropriate process, however given all the concerns being raised and confusion about the process, and as sign of good faith and to build trust, we will organize a local public process to help concerned individuals better understand the woodlot process.”
Several Island residents, and the Islands Trust, have argued allowing the logging would put a huge part of Gambier under the axe and damage land with high environmental and recreational value.
Meanwhile a letter writing campaign to try to convince the province to abandon the woodlot plan altogether continues. Bob Turner is helping coordinate it, and he says response has been pretty strong.
It’s still not clear what the ministry’s fresh consultation will look like, or when it will start.
