Crowsnest Pass Forest Health (December 3)
Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions also are for the Sustainable Resource Development minister. One thing that Albertans and large numbers of Canadians cherish about our province is the beauty of the natural landscape, its pure aesthetic quality.
The Crowsnest Pass area, the lowest mountain pass elevation between Mexico and Jasper, is host to a unique forest community, tree species that occur nowhere else in Alberta, the western red cedar and the western white pine, now threatened by proposed clear-cutting. Many people are upset in this pristine, unique landscape. To the minister: has your department done an inventory of these unique Alberta species?
Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, the greatest threat to the Crowsnest Pass and the rest of the eastern slopes is not forestry but the pine beetles coming in from British Columbia. The choice isn’t between a green mountain and a clear-cut mountain; it’s a red, or dying, or a grey mountain, which is what you see in British Columbia now. Our forestry plans do recognize the important status of the two types of trees that the member refers to. When the initial work is being done, it’s indicated where they are, and the policy is to leave them standing.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Sustainable Resource Development ministry grants approval to Spray Lakes for clearcutting, will they ensure that the approved plan is modified to include a buffer to ensure watershed protection for Allison Creek, an internationally recognized trout fishery?
Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I have to inform myself about the specifics of Allison Creek, but I can assure the member opposite that buffers are required in all of our forestry plans, and this would be no exception. I’ll check on that specific and get back to him.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the minister consider reviewing the approach in this special area to ensure that all the unique plant and animal species have been characterized and their protection assured?
Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I think that we have policies in place that do that already. Our biodiversity monitoring program measures that on a province-wide basis. We also have a status of species report done every five years, and every forestry plan has to identify fisheries and wildlife concerns that are in that area.
Alberta Hansard, December 3, 2008