PORT BLANDFORD, N.L. — “This is devastation in the making,” says Cliff Matthews on a planned clear cut of a block of forest between Port Blandford and Thorburn Lake.
Matthews and fellow Port Blandford citizen Garfield White say they were taken by surprise when they heard that two contractors had been granted permission to clear in the area, starting in April.
“They’re going to cut from the river, right past the power line,” White told The Packet. “That’s going to be nothing but stumps … this is really extreme.”
White and Matthews are members of a group formed to protest the clearcutting. Linda Davis and Adam Greening are also on the committee.
They have planned a public information meeting for Tuesday night, Feb. 20, in Port Blandford.
“We’re going to see what (the rest) of the town wants,” says White. He feels they’ve been kept in the dark by officials from the Department of Fishery and Land Resources because they knew the people would oppose such actions.
“Anyone who sees (the clearcutting) as a positive thing isn’t from around here,” said Matthews.
Both White and Matthews have cabins near the area marked for cutting, but they say there are many other reasons why clear cutting could be disastrous for the region.
They say the back country is extensively used for tourism, and people driving through the area won’t like the change in appearance.
“You’d never believe the (amount of) people who come into Port Blandford to buy gas and supplies to go into the country on snow machines and quads or whatever,” said Matthews.
“We’re going to lose a lot of business.”
Matthews also fears the fate of the salmon river in the area.
“The root system is what keeps our earth together … everything slopes towards (the Southwest) River. So all the runoff is all going to run out into this river,” said Matthews.
There could be further effects on the environment, they say, noting the clearcut could lead to higher winds on the Trans Canada Highway through the area.
“That’s our shield,” said Matthews. “(Clearcutting) will change the climate here in Port Blandford.”
Not to mention possible negative effects on Port Blandford’s water shed, they add.
According to White representatives from the department told him there are endangered pine marten in the area, but assured that a study conducted by the department determined they could still do the clearcutting.
As for the reasoning for the clearcutting, White says he was told it was approved for remediation efforts, to promote new forest growth, while creating work for harvesters. But he attests the woods, at least most of it, is mostly made up of large, healthy forest. He suspects lumber companies have lobbied government to have access to the area.
“When you get to Port Blandford you’ll see a sign, ‘Watch out for potholes and pull up a stump’ because that’s all that’s going to be left here!” proclaimed an animated White.
The Packet contacted the Department of Fishery and Land Resources for further comment, but officials from the department did not provide information by the time of publication.
However, the five-year plan for zone 2 — including maps and details on the area identified for clear cutting near Port Blandford — is available on their website http://www.mae.gov.nl.ca/env_assessment/projects/Y2016/1865/index.html.
The community information meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, Feb. 20, at the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Blandford.
White says anyone who is interested in this issue is encouraged to attend.
Twitter: @jejparsons
