New Brunswick's Last Old Growth Forests Being Logged
11/1/96
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From Taiga-News 19, November 1996
Canada
REPAP is logging new Brunswick's last old growth forests
Much like the Scandinavian countries, New Brunswick, a province on the east
coast of Canada has very little old growth forest ecosystems left. This
province was one of the first colonised by the Europeans and so the forests
reflect the resource extraction.
In 1992, the first road cut through the middle of the Christmas Mountains.
This region, so named for its mountain peaks which are called after Santa's
reindeers, is the only old growth forest left in New Brunswick. It has
survived this long because of its remoteness, and the low value of boreal
forest tree species versus those found in the Acadian forests at lower
altitudes and latitudes.
The Christmas Mountains are a transition zone between the Acadian and
Boreal Forest Systems. The primary tree species of the region are Balsam
Fir (Abies balsam ) and Black Spruce (Picea mariana ). White Birch and
Eastern White Pine are minor species. Pine marten, Cooper's Hawk and the
flying squirrel are rare and endangered species whose habitat is
unfragmented forest. Recently, the Bicknell's Thrush has also been
identified as a rare species that lives in the highlands of New Brunswick.
This region was also habitat to the Ghost lion, otherwise known as the
eastern cougar, which is an endangered species.
In 1992 the 50 000 acres of unfragmented forest started being reduced to
the 12 000 acres (4500 ha) that is left today. By New Brunswick standards
this is still sizeable. There is only 1.3% of the province protected, and
none of this is old growth forest.
Micmac and Maliseet territory
The original forest that remains crosses between both Micmac and Maliseet
First Nations traditional territory. This was a portage route for these
peoples, and remains of old burial sites can be seen in a present day
clear-cut. This is unceded land, with Nalisk Mountain, the second highest
peak in New Brunswick documented as traditionally bear clan. The Mi'Kmaq
and Maliseet chiefs are asking for the 12,000 acres to be protected and to
be allowed to co-manage crown (public) land.
The Union of New Brunswick Indians, The Friends of the Christmas Mountains,
The Warrior Society's Peacekeepers, the Conservation Council of New
Brunswick, and many other provincial and National groups are all working
closely to achieve this goal. Originally in 1992 there was a sign on of
concerned citizens and First nations, fishers, scientists, environmental
and Naturalist groups, representing 20% of the population of the province,
which asked for a moratorium to be put on logging and road building in the
whole of the Christmas Mountains. This was ignored by the government and
clear-cutting continued. Many demonstrations, letters, petitions, speakers,
scientific conferences and blockades later we are struggling to see the
12,000 acres protected.
Three month protest camp
This past summer included a three month protest camp by the Friends of the
Christmas Mountains, and a five week demonstration camp by the Warrior
Society Peacekeepers. The Warriors set up a gate that stopped logging or
road building until an injunction was obtained by REPAP and was served by
200 police officers in full bullet proof gear. The 15 peaceful
demonstrators removed the gate, and the demonstration camps remained. The
Friends of Christmas Mountains still maintain their camp on the week-end.
Other actions, panel discussions, media work, making a video and legal
affairs continue daily. Presently the Conservation Council of New
Brunswick, four Warriors and seven Friends of the Christmas Mountains are
being sued for $200 000 by REPAP to recur losses. None of them broke the
law, and most of them were not in the Mountains when the gate was up. This
is a strategic move on their behalf so that activists cannot speak out
without risk. It is, in practice, a loss of freedom of speech.
Chiefs in support of protection
The Mi'Kmaq and Maliseet chiefs of the Union of New Brunswick Indians have
unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the environmental position
taken by Warrior Peace-Keepers, the Friends of Christmas Mountains and the
Conservation Council of New Brunswick. The chiefs' resolution calls for the
peaceful halt to all clear-cutting in a tiny 12,000-acre of the Christmas
Mountains and the immediate establishment of roundtable discussions between
all concerned parties on how to best manage public forests in ways that
respect a wider range of public values, including the special interests of
the tribes.
Mi'Kmaq and Maliseet chiefs of the Union of New Brunswick Indians have
delivered a statement to Natural Resources Minister Alan Graham. The
statement was written by Henry Bear, a policy analyst and Native lawyer,
who is defending Charles Nicholas, one of the activists being sued by
REPAP. According to the statement, it is the chiefs position that all
clear-cutting is too destructive and impacts mother earth's capacity to
sustain her forest ecosystem. They support sustainable forest ecosystem
management policies that preserve and protect the widest range of forest
based values, especially values which are spiritual and healing in nature.
This position is in accord with Canada's newly stated sustainable forest
development policy.
The statement also reads: "This is another chapter in a true New Brunswick
story involving relationships between its people and those of the Mi'kmaq
and Maliseet peoples. Relations between Mi'kmaq and Maliseet peoples and
non-aboriginal people which have, with some exceptions, been seen as
painful and unjust by the aboriginal peoples. This was because before their
very eyes, and even up to the present day, territorial lands have been
illegally occupied, converted, and wasted, regardless of Mi'kmaq and
Maliseet protests and reliance on these same lands for their economic,
social, political and cultural survival."
Ownership - a foreign concept
"To the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy peoples, the concept of
'owning' land is still, generally, foreign...Maliseets and Mi'kmaqs still
feel they share the land, the water, and the atmosphere with all New
Brunswickers and forms of life. But, as the chiefs have now clearly
indicated, they are reluctant to adopt provincial land management schemes
they feel interfere with the land's ability to manage itself. The point
being made here is that Maliseets and Mi'kmaqs have always been prepared to
share their tribal lands with others, but only with who are mature and
responsible."
"The chiefs demand that all legitimate interests be fully included in
forestry plans and activities before these occur, to ensure proper respect
and consideration has been given to these interests before foresting
licenses are granted by any government authority. Otherwise, democracy in
New Brunswick can not be said to be a true democracy. By excluding Mi'kmaq
and Maliseet concerns and management approaches from public conversation,
the government is denying New Brunswickers relevant information of public
concern. The result will be a whitewashed and biased discussion."
The statement very clearly indicates, that the chiefs will not accept
attempts to forcibly deny their use and enjoyment of territorial lands, and
will continue to resist all such attempts into the future unless a mutually
acceptable arrangement can be made with regard to co-operative land use and
management.
No protection, minister says
Alan Graham, Minister of Natural Resources of New Brunswick, has said: "No
matter how many public protests, we will not protect that area". This is
where things stand at present. Indigenous concerns are being ignored, the
old growth is being clear-cut, activists are being sued - and we are still
asking for round tables or a scientific type panel along with a moratorium.
AMELIA CLARKE,
FRIENDS OF THE CHRISTMAS MOUNTAINS
(and one of the people that REPAP is suing)
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What you can do:
Please write Premier Frank McKenna and express your concerns for this
region at:
PO BOX 6000, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5H1, tel (+1) 506 453
2144, fax (+1) 506 453 7407, e-mail: premier@gov.nb.ca
For more information contact:
The Friends of the Christmas Mountains, Box M-956, Sackville, N.B., Canada,
E0A 3C0, tel. (+1) 506 536 3843, fax (+1) 506 536 4230, e-mail:
mjjnh@mailserv.mta.ca.
Web-site:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/3761/xmashome.htm