The Forest Gallery of 1000 Hearts – Video – Click to view.
Click to enlarge – Forest with 1000 Hearts – Formerly the Clack Creek Gallery Forest
Stand With Clack Creek Forest Protest – Jan 24, 2020
At February 27, 2020 – Campaign Status (Logging Commenced February 2020) – This forest has been logged
At February 21, 2020
ELF (and the community) recently lost a forest, but has gained appreciation for a new one. We did get the logging of The Clack Creek Forest delayed since 2013 due to 3x re-designs of the block based on concerns and information we brought forward to BCTS.
However, the block was sold and is in the process of being logged. Ugh! We are now looking at other areas across the Elphinstone slopes, not scheduled for logging and important to be added to an expanded protected area.
One of these is a zone above the Park Parcel #2. It covers a large area between Roberts-Flume FSR to the west to Roberts Creek to the west, and, the Health Trail to the south and north to Double D Trail. A rough trail is being worked on with future public walks planned.
View this series of images and you’ll see a Mature stand of Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar with a well established understorey of sword-fern and mosses. It has an open canopy supporting good habitat for Bear, Wolf, Deer and Elk. ELF will work towards this area being added to the Mt. Elphinstone Prov. Park by end of the year. Stay tuned for a walk-in-the-woods into this very nice zone.
At February 6, 2020 – Protester arrested in Clack Creek Forest –
At least one demonstrator has been arrested following the return of crews from the Squamish-based company Black Mount Logging to the Clack Creek cutblock. Backed by a court injunction against Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF), the logging crews resumed cutting on Feb. 4. Read in full Here.
At January 24, 2020 – Stand Up for The Clack Creek Forest Protest
Stand With Clack Creek Forest Protest – Jan 24, 2020
Clack Creek Forest Needs a Miracle and miracles have been known to happen. Today (January 24, 2020), a crowd of up to 120 people stood along Sunshine Coast Hwy 101 in unity to oppose the BC Timber Sales (an arm of the Ministry of Forests) and the NDP government’s push to proceed on logging The Clack Creek Forest.
Email one last time the Minister and inform him even though Black Mount Logging of Squamish was awarded the timber sale we urge him to intervene at this late hour. These residents are voters and will remember if this forest goes down. An Injunction to remove a peaceful blockade could be granted next Tuesday paving the way for 1,000 of trees to be dropped, but the Minister may realize that part of democracy is to listen up. Pick one of the images (from our Facebook page) and copy it into your message. doug.donaldson@gov.bc.ca
At January 22, 2020 – Status Critical…
Stand Up for The Clack Creek Forest event this Friday (January 24th) from 2-4 pm. Community Protest to send a strong message back to BC Timber Sales and the NDP that we’re still united on conservation of this Mature Intact Forest. Meet at the B & K Rd at Highway 101. Turn onto the B & K and park up the road. Bring your own sign or chose from some on hand. There will be a few fun activities to keep our spirits up in the face of the pending Injunction Day.
Poster in PDF format
One last chance to email the Minister of Forests and tell him to cancel this BlkA93884 – The Clack Creek Forest full of hearts. doug.donaldson@gov.bc.ca
Click to enlarge – Forest of 1000 Hearts – Formerly the Clack Creek Gallery Forest
At January 20, 2020 – UPDATED: Logging company seeks injunction against ELF
Trees Adorned With Hearts
Heart Cutting Workshop
Heart Cutting Workshop
SEE Also Facebook for More Pics, Discussion and Details: https://www.facebook.com/pg/elphinstonelogging.focus/posts/
At January 16th, 2020 – UPDATED: Logging crews prevented from working in Clack Creek cutblock
At January 13th, 2020
SEE – Coast Reporter Article – Logging crews prevented from working in Clack Creek cutblock
At January 12th, 2020
Visit our Facebook page for Pictures of The Sunday Standoff between Black Mount Logging and ELF in “The Forest with a 1,000 Hearts” (Clack Creek). What kind of company or Province would destroy a forest with a 1,000 hearts? Standing Forests like these is how the world began. Their loss will be how the world ends. Contact us at loggingfocus@gmail should you like to help out in finding a possible solution.
At January 12th, 2020
On this Sunday, January 12th, Black Mount Logging (Squamish) began dropping trees in the Forest with a 1,000 Hearts (Clack Creek) on the Sunshine Coast. Please view this short video and reach out to ELF as we attempt to find a solution. https://youtu.be/Hv_Y-nq5JlQ
At November 22, 2019
https://thenarwhal.ca/weve-been-cheated-sunshine-coast-community-braces-for-logging-of-forest-at-heart-of-park-proposal/
At October 24, 2019 – Sunshine Coast group rallies to save Forest with 1,000 Hearts from loggers
Province has sold cutting rights in a block of forest expected to be added to Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/sunshine-coast-group-rallies-to-save-forest-with-1000-hearts-from-loggers
At October 24, 2019 – Forest Gallery of 100 Hearts – Video – Click to view.
To take action – sample letter to government to protect this forest – a key part of the proposed Mt Elphinstone Park Expansion. Click Here.
Two news articles:.
At 7-29-2019 – Press Release – Government Approves Logging in Proposed Ecological Reserve (Sunshine Coast)
Press Release Clack Creek ER Proposal Under Threat
At 5-28-2019 – Press Release – Clack Creek Forest Sold at a Suspiciously Low Price
Press Release Low Bid on CC Forest (1)
At 5-2-2019 – Taking you back into The Clack Creek Forest or what it really is : A Fortress. It’s one of the most amazing low-elevation places left on the Sunshine Coast. Its a fortress because it’s a self-regulating and governing entity. What right does any government or human entity have to make a claim over it? So little left of this forest ecosystem left, yet BCTS and the NDP want to liquidate most of it while they can. Shameful and embarrassing to think that in 2019 chainsaws could be falling this fortress. No warning of it coming to the other sentient beings that we’re suppose to being sharing this one planet with. The ghosts of these trees will haunt those responsible. Email Forest Minister Doug Donaldson and say: Hold Off Logging the Clack Creek Forest Until the Modern Land Use Plan is completed otherwise we’re still living in the Dark Ages of planning. doug.donaldson@gov.bc.ca SEE Facebook for More Pics and Details: https://www.facebook.com/pg/elphinstonelogging.focus/posts/
At 4-26-2019 – At the Clack Creek Forest trailhead logging contractors are now showing up walking ELF’s trail (that follows the proposed road center line) to have a look at the standing trees they want to fall. One contractor left a note trying to suggest that they’re the better stewards of the forest because they would pick up a small pile of junk wood nearby! You can draw your own conclusions on the IQ of the person who wrote this.
At the upper (proposed) road center line we installed a camping deck a few years ago in anticipation of maybe having a camp here. If this logging road goes ahead it will destroy 2 patches of the at-risk, native plant Rubus Nivalis (snow bramble). Closing date for contractors to enter their bids is April 30th.
Email Forest Minister Doug Donaldson and say: Hold Off Logging the Clack Creek Forest Until the Modern Land Use Plan is completed otherwise we’re still living in the Dark Ages of planning. doug.donaldson@gov.bc.ca SEE Facebook for More Pics and Details: https://www.facebook.com/pg/elphinstonelogging.focus/posts/
At 4-23-2019 – Press Release – Clack Creek Forest Being Defended
Press Release Clack Creek ER Proposal Under Threat
At 4-23-2019 –
Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) has received a West Coast Environment Law grant to engage the services of a lawyer in an attempt to stop a BC Timber Sales Block A9334 (Clack Creek Forest) from proceeding to be sold later this month. The forest is within the area of the long-standing Mt. Elphinstone Park expansion proposal and provides critical connectivity between 2 of the 3 small protected islands of forest.
As of today (April 23rd), ELF has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking a judicial review of BC Timber Sales’ decision to list Block A93884 for sale. Supporting documents include the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s Roberts Creek Official Community Plan supporting park expansion, a 2018 Forest Practices Board investigation that recommends protecting rare plant communities found in this forest, and a 2018 ecological assessment (Banner Consulting) that favors setting aside this area, amongst others.
“The Clack Creek Forest falls within the area that government and the shíshálh Nation have agreed to study in an upcoming Modern Land Use Planning (MLUP) initiative. Our position is that approving the sale of this critical forest while land use planning is underway is unreasonable and puts this important ecosystem at risk,” states Ross Muirhead, a forest campaigner with ELF.
“There is ample information available to BC Timber Sales regarding the value of this forest and the availability of other timber outside the proposed park expansion area,” remarks Matthew Nefstead, a Victoria-based environmental lawyer retained by ELF. “This block did not need to be listed for sale now, and we are asking the court to overturn that decision. Between now and end of this month, the Timber Sales Manager has an opportunity to defer the block and allow the MLUP to be completed.” SEE: https://www.facebook.com/pg/elphinstonelogging.focus/posts/
At 2-20-2019 – Sample letter – Send to Government Ministers
Update 7-30-2018:
Ecological Report Suggests Protection of Two Key Forests:
1 – Ecological-Study-of-Two-Proposed-Cutblocks
2 – Ecological Reconnaissance of BCTS Blocks A93884 and A91376
Email the following to voice your support for protection of these two key forest:
Stacey Gould, Woodlands Manager: stacey.gould@gov.bc.ca
Adam Hockin, BCTS RPF at: bcts.powell.river@gov.bc.ca
cc: Derek Lefler, Sunshine Coast Forest District Manager at: derek.lefler@gov.bc.ca
Background
(Name Change -10-28-2014 – Formerly the Elphinstone Living Garden Forest)
‘The Clack Creek Gallery Forest’, is an intact forest, on the lower Mt Elphinstone slopes showing old-growth characteristics. Step-pool streams create ideal amphibian habitat. There’s evidence of elk, deer and bear. Huge dead-standing trees are slowly creating the next soil layer.
It’s a tranquil place that should be left for all-time.
Now the bad news: this forest is a BC Timber Sales (BCTS) TSL A87126 Cutblock now surveyed for clear-cut logging. Logging will do irreparable damage to the many other recorded values in place.
The area under question is between Clack & Gough Creeks along Roberts-Flume FSR Br. 1.
There’s been no public input on this proposed logging, because as we know, we live in a Timber State. Here’s your chance to see what’s up in this forest and what could be coming down. This area is shishalh (Sechelt) traditional territory, and within the proposed 1,500ha Mt. Elphinstone Prov. Park expansion. Note: TrailFest Wagon bike trail cuts through the surveyed block and will become part of a massive clear-cut. Mountain bikers will be concerned about the loss of this trail in a worldclass biking area.
email BCTS to oppose the logging and voice your support for protection of these two key forest. The contacts are:Stacey Gould, Woodlands Manager: stacey.gould@gov.bc.ca
Adam Hockin, BCTS RPF at: bcts.powell.river@gov.bc.ca
cc: Derek Lefler, Sunshine Coast Forest District Manager at: derek.lefler@gov.bc.ca
Discover ‘The Clack Creek Gallery Forest’ on the Elphinstone Slopes
Since the 1990’s, ‘Creekers’ have been asking for wider forest protection across the low elevation Elphinstone slopes. What have we gotten? An inadequate 139Ha Provincial park out of a 1,500Ha zone. What do we continue to see? More intact, older forests logged out. Its time for us Sunshine Coast residents to demand a little more, before this rare ecosystem is fragmented to pieces.
Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) invites you and family out to a guided walk into ‘The Clack Creek Gallery Forest’ – a living product of nature’s evolution & beauty – a forest gallery of majestic emerging old growth trees, endangered flora species and of artistic thought provoking signs created by residents over the last year which line the ‘Forest Sign Trail‘, expressing their respect for the forest.
Blue Listed – Snow Bramble (Rubus Nivalis) has been found on the lower Elphinstone slopes
We will be visiting the largest patch of the endangered native plant, Rubus Nivalis, (snow bramble) known in the Province – an indicator of the area’s rich bio-diversity. Note we could loose this forest as it’s a current BC Timber Sales proposed cutblock.
Upcoming Trail Walk
Date: Sunday, November 2nd
Time: 1 PM
Meeting Location: B & K Rd (off Hwy 101) at the powerlines. The B & K is in Roberts Creek, east of the Sunshine Coast Golf Course and Cliff Gilker Park
Bring: rain gear, water, snacks
Round Trip: 3-4 hours
Level: Moderate
email BCTS to oppose the logging and voice your support for protection of these two key forest. The contacts are:Stacey Gould, Woodlands Manager: stacey.gould@gov.bc.ca
Adam Hockin, BCTS RPF at: bcts.powell.river@gov.bc.ca
cc: Derek Lefler, Sunshine Coast Forest District Manager at: derek.lefler@gov.bc.ca
Background, Past Trail Walks and History
THE ELPHINSTONE FAMILY TREE EVENT– Sunday, June 8th
Sunday, June 2, 2014 – Trail Walk and Take Action
Link Below: Sunday, June 2, 2014 – Forest Walk Ad under Former name – Elphinstone Living Forest
https://elf-tr.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Elphinstone-Living-Forest-ad1.pdf
If you can’t make it out for the trail walk this Sunday, then email BCTS to oppose the logging. The contact is: norm.kempe@gov.bc.ca
Meet: Roberts Creek Community Hall (upper parking lot)
When: Sunday, June 2
Time: 1PM
Additional details:
Trail Difficulty- medium
Should be in good health
Bring Snacks
For more information contact:
Elphinstone Logging Focus
604-740-5654
www.elf-tr.org