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Wilderness Committee Required to Pay Company Logging in Spotted Owl Habitat
by Gwen Barlee •
Thursday June 03, 2004 at 02:40 PM
gwen@wildernesscommittee.org
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ordered the Western Canada Wilderness Committee to pay court costs to Cattermole Timber arising from spotted owl litigation. Justice S.J. Shabbits found that Cattermole Timber participated in the court case only to protect its private interests.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ordered the Western Canada Wilderness Committee to pay court costs to Cattermole Timber arising from spotted owl litigation. Justice S.J. Shabbits found that Cattermole Timber participated in the court case only to protect its private interests. The decision arose from an unsuccessful legal battle by the Wilderness Committee to stop Cattermole Timber from logging in critical spotted owl habitat in Anderson Creek in southwestern British Columbia. Cattermole Timber also avoided paying court costs from an earlier loss that saw the Wilderness Committee obtaining the first injunction in Canada stopping logging in spotted owl habitat. “The sad thing about this case is that we are simply trying to stop the spotted owl from becoming extinct in Canada”, commented Gwen Barlee, Policy Director with the Wilderness Committee. “I think the question to ask here is why wasn’t the provincial government in court trying to protect the spotted owl, instead of advocating for Cattermole’s right to log in owl habitat? It is troubling that non-profit organizations are now tasked with trying to do the job of the provincial government when it comes to protecting endangered species in BC.” The British Columbia Liberal government “manages” the Northern spotted owl through the Spotted Owl Management Plan, an approach that has seen the owl decline by 67% in just 10 years. The controversial plan allows logging in critical owl habitat under the auspices that commercial logging can “maintain or enhance” owl habitat. Although the provincial government is formally in charge of protecting the spotted owl, it is at the same time actually the largest logger of owl habitat through its BC Timber Sales Program. Costs against the Wilderness Committee are anticipated to be in the range of $8,000. This most recent finding is on top of a previous $12,500 award that the Wilderness Committee paid to Cattermole Timber last year after losing at the Court of Appeal. Even though only 14 owls were recorded by the BC government in 2004, Cattermole Timber has reapplied to log in areas set aside in the court cases, in an area of critical spotted owl habitat. “Paying this hurts,” said Barlee, “but we’re committed to saving the spotted owl even if the BC government isn’t. We will continue to work to protect the owl until the BC Liberal government does the right thing and stops allowing logging its habitat.” For more info contact: Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Office tel: (604) 683-8220 Cell tel: (604) 202-0322
Spotted Owl vs Government
by Jeff Stanton •
Saturday June 05, 2004 at 11:55 PM
There is only one way to get the BC Libral (alias SocialCredit party in 2000's dress) to address these issues.
From the unemployement line. These people do not care a hoot :) about the environment. They care about one thing. Money in their pocket, ie GREED. The only way we will have environmental stewardship in this province is to send these people packing back to their holes.
Spotted Owls
by Gerry Mcrouser •
Tuesday November 09, 2004 at 09:25 PM
sorry its classified
The spotted Owl are dying, unfotinalntly the goverment isn't doing anything to help, only the oppsite.
information
Spotted Owls
by Gerry Mcrousy •
Tuesday November 09, 2004 at 09:36 PM
in my area loggers are gaoing at it like mad, which is horrible, ive seen so many dead owls...
Owls
by Amanda •
Tuesday September 20, 2005 at 06:18 PM
I would like to say that even thought you think that the Canadian Government isnt doing anything, they listed the Spotted Owl as endangered, they are getting the areness out there aren't they? And isnt that better then nothing?
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