Forests Archive
2012-03-14 AWA News Release: No Public Involvement in Forestry Deal: Health of North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River Headwaters at Stake
A large forest management contract on public lands in the headwaters of two major Alberta rivers is close to being renewed without any public consultation. Albertans may miss this one-in-twenty-year opportunity to provide input into the management of North Saskatchewan and Red Deer Rivers headwaters, affecting over a million downstream users.
2012-03-05 No Public Consultation in Forest Management Agreement Renewal Process
This document is the official input from Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) into the Forest Management Agreement (FMA) renewal process of Sundre Forest Products Inc. (SFP), within the provincial Forest Management Unit R10. Although there is no requirement to conduct a formal public consultation process surrounding FMA renewals, we believe Albertans have the right to provide input into the management of public lands held in trust and managed by our elected representatives.
2012-02-15 Sustainable Forests, Sustainable Communities. The Future of Alberta’s Southwestern Forests
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2011, by Nigel Douglas, describing a report from a group of environmental groups, landowner organizations, watershed groups and businesses, working to present an alternative model of forest management in Alberta.
2012-02-14 ENGO News Release: Over a Hundred Attend Valentine’s Day Rallies in Support of Forests
More than 170 people attended rallies today in Calgary and Edmonton to send a strong message to the Government of Alberta: Albertans love their forests and don’t want the heart of protected areas like the Castle Special Place or poplar trail systems in Bragg Creek to be logged.
2012-02-13 Alberta's Forests Need your Love on Valentine's Day!
AWA Wilderness & Wildlife Defenders alert. Please join us on Valentine's Day to show your love for Alberta's forests! Save our Forests rally, Tuesday February 14 at 12:00. Rallies are being held in Calgary and in Edmonton.
2012-02-06 Save our Forests Rally Rescheduled
Last week, AWA notified supporters of an upcoming Save our Forests Rally, taking place in both Calgary and Edmonton. Please note that the rallies have now been rescheduled: they will be taking place on Tuesday February 14. This will be your chance to add your voice to the growing movement calling for a new vision for forest management in Alberta, whether it is the Castle, Bragg Creek or the Livingstone.
2012-02-02 Action Alert: Turning up the Heat on Alberta’s Forest Mis-Management
Public opposition to ill-planned clearcut logging programs in southern Alberta’s sensitive forests is steadily growing. Now is the time to increase the pressure on the Alberta government to listen to Albertans and to start bringing in sweeping changes to the way our forest are managed. Please consider these three options for adding your voice to the growing groundswell.
2012-02-01 Castle Logging Protest Camp Cleared by RCMP. Logging Opposition Continues
The battle to save the Castle from imminent clearcut logging continues. This morning, the RCMP moved in to clear the site near Beaver Mines where protesters have been camped out in opposition to the proposed Castle clearcut logging. The RCMP were there to enforce a Court Order to leave the protest site. Four of the 30 protesters declined to leave and were arrested. Meanwhile, the Court Order is being appealed in a provincial court. The case will be heard in the Calgary court Centre at 10:00 a.m. on Friday February 3.
2012-01-26 Bragg Creek Forum Sees Considerable Opposition to Local Clearcut Logging
On January 26, nearly 500 people attended a public meeting hosted by the Sustain Kananaskis Group in Bragg Creek, to hear about plans for clearcut logging near West Bragg Creek. If the proposed plans go ahead, more than 700 hectares of forest will be felled, with considerable impacts on skiing and hiking trails in the area, not to mention wildlife habitat and drinking water.
2011-10-25 News Release: Southwest Alberta groups release new recommendations for sustainable forest management
Today sees the release of a new report, Sustainable Forests, Sustainable Communities: The Future of Alberta’s Southwestern Forests. Citizens and associations from communities throughout southwestern Alberta have joined together to document serious concerns with current industrial-scale logging practices, and present an alternative vision for the management of Alberta's southwestern forests.
2011-10-24 New Report: Sustainable Forests, Sustainable Communities. The Future of Alberta’s Southwestern Forests
A new report is released today. Citizens and associations from communities throughout southwestern Alberta have joined together to document serious concerns with current industrial‐scale logging practices and present an alternative vision for the management of Alberta's southwestern forests.
2011-07-14 Alberta's $300 Million Pine Beetle Fight: Money Well Spent?
Alberta has spent $300 million over the past 6 years fighting pine beetles in the province. But is it working? AWA is concerned that "fighting" pine beetles could do more damage to forests than the beetles themselves. Watch an Alberta Primetime interview with AWA's Nigel Douglas and Sarah Boon, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Lethbridge.
2011-05-13 Rainbow I Pipeline Spill: AWA calls for full investigation
The recent failure of the 45-year old Plains All American Rainbow pipeline in northwestern Alberta, which discharged 4.5 million litres (28,000 barrels) of crude oil into boreal wetlands and forest, is only one such example. The 220,000 barrel-a-day Rainbow line, owned by a Canadian subsidiary of Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline L.P., developed a leak on April 28 that resulted in the biggest spill the province has seen since 1975.
2010-12-02 Forest Management Certification Pre-assessment of Spray Lake Sawmills
Letter by AWA to Smartwood. Smartwood are the auditors for Spray Lake Sawmills' application to receive Forest Stewardship Council certification for sustainable management of the forests in their Forest Management Agreement area in Kananaskis and the Ghost.
2010-09-15 Ecosystem-based Conservation Planning in the Ghost Watershed. Waiparous Creek Initial EBCP
Presentation by Herb Hammond to the Ghost Watershed Alliance and AWA.
2010-08-16 The Forests of Alberta's Southern Eastern Slopes: Forest or Forestry?
August 2010 update of AWA's position paper.
2010-05-29 Ghost River Watershed Ecosystem-based Conservation Plan
Progress report on an Ecosystem-based Conservation Plan for the Ghost River Watershed, prepared by Silva Ecosystem Services on behalf of AWA and the Ghost Watershed Alliance.
2009-12 A Vision of Forest management for the Future
Wild Lands Advocate article, December 2009, by Nigel Douglas.
2008-04-28 AWA News Release: Alberta Conservation Groups Ask Government for Reduction in Size of West Fraser Logging Area
The Hinton Wood Products (HWP) forest management agreement in west central Alberta ends June 14, 2008. Conservation groups are asking Ted Morton Minister of Sustainable Resource Development that upon renewal the HWP Forest Management Area be reduced in size by at least 20%.
2006-05-09 AWA News Release: Albertans Speak Out about Forests: Wildlife Comes First
In a recent survey of forest use in Alberta, Albertans made it clear that managing our forests should be about more than timber and fibre production.
