Sustainable Resource Development Open House
June 12, 2007
Sustainable Resource Development finally came to Bragg Creek to present their case on management of the Kananaskis forest. It was a very impressive display. I hope we (people in Bragg Creek) weren’t too unpleasant, but we’re quite upset about the logging planned for the eastern districts of Kananaskis.
They said logging has occurred in the area over forty years, implying that current logging is business as usual. But, forty years ago there was no Kananaskis and there weren’t over ½-million people touring and playing in the most popular recreation area in Alberta; there weren’t 1-million people in Calgary depending on water from the Elbow River watershed. The impact of logging didn’t affect recreation, tourism, real estate and hundreds of businesses that serve people who visit the area, to the extent it does now. We are learning more all the time about the effect industrial development has on this highly valued wilderness that is so close to Calgary. Cities across North America now protect their watersheds from development that affects their residents. Although very little study has been done in Kananaskis to determine if the increasing pressure of all forms of development is sustainable, a cumulative impact study underway south of the area, indicates that the environment won’t sustain unlimited development. Further development here, should be delayed until a study that quantifies the difference between the current ecology and the natural landscape can serve to predict the impact development will have. That is the only way to assure Albertans that resource development in Kananaskis is sustainable.
Times have changed, conditions have changed – we think it is time for a change in policy and we hope our representatives in the public service, will reflect our concern. As Alberta’s wealth and influence increases, we are being held to account for our actions across the country. We need to show that we recognize and value social and environmental factors while we profit from the wealth of the resources we possess. One of the SRD handouts says, “Forest Management Agreements . . . must consider a broad range of forest values such as social, economic and environmental factors.” We don’t think the Detailed Forest Manangement Plans does that adequately.
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Tag A Tree organizers answer questions at the Bragg Creek Centre, June 12
The presentation included an impressive display of maps, photos, videos and ehibits