I drove to the top of Mount Prevost this past sunny weekend. The place bustled with sightseers, mountain bikers, hikers, and motorcycle/ATV enthusiasts. I took a spur logging road and drove through a grim Read more…
Continue readingAuthor: Larry Pynn
Cowichan Conversations: Bios of members of citizens’ Working Group on future of Municipal Forest Reserve
Originally published by sixmountains.ca Bios of members of citizens’ Working Group on future of Municipal Forest Reserve reveal diverse backgrounds and interests Meetings of the newly appointed citizens’ Working Group on future Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: A forest canopy is the best protection against the ecological plague of Scotch broom
Scotch broom is the scourge of North Cowichan, a tough invasive species that crowds out native plants — including endangered Garry Oak ecosystems — in the Municipal Forest Reserve/Six Mountains and creates a serious Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: North Cowichan has a remarkable opportunity to protect BC’s most endangered ‘landscape,’ says prominent plant ecologist
Originally published by sixmountains.ca. North Cowichan’s 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve lies within the most endangered “ecological zone” in British Columbia, providing the municipality with a remarkable opportunity to make a major conservation difference, Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Water protection trumps logging in the Municipal Forest Reserve, says society president
Originally published by sixmountains.ca. The Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society is asking North Cowichan to consider water protection rather than logging as the best use of the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Confusion, suspicion reign in early stages of public consultation for North Cowichan Municipal Forest Reserve
North Cowichan’s launch of its much-anticipated public engagement on the future of the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve stumbled badly out of the blocks this week, leaving citizens understandably confused and suspicious about the process. At Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Clearcutting not the answer for reducing urban wildfire risk, expert warns
Originally published by https://sixmountains.ca A leading forest professional says clearcutting is the worst thing a community can do to reduce the risks of wildfires along an urban interface. “I know that some people are Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: NC Council approves 2,000 cubic metres of logging in Municipal Forest Reserve, rejects additional cutting pending consultation with UBC, public
Originally published by Sixmountains.ca North Cowichan council has rejected a staff suggestion to approve logging an additional 5,000 cubic metres from the Municipal Forest Reserve. Instead, council voted unanimously to log 2,000 cubic metres Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Much-anticipated public engagement on future of Six Mountains about to begin
Larry Pynn is a veteran environmental journalist, Explorers Club member, and author of two non-fiction books, including Last Stands: A Journey Through North America’s Vanishing Ancient Rainforests. He lives in Maple Bay. Citizens of North Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Cowichan Tribes begins development of major marijuana-growing operation on Mount Tzouhalem reserve
Originally published by sixmountains.ca. Logging has been taking place on Mount Tzouhalem in the Six Mountains, but this time it’s not the Municipality of North Cowichan. Cowichan Tribes has been clearing trees on its reserve Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Consultant warns that two-phase talks on Municipal Forest Reserve could create public confusion, fatigue
A draft plan for public consultation on future management of the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve — also known as the Six Mountains — has highlighted several “challenges” with the process being undertaken by North Cowichan Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Expert sees need for improved viewscape policy in Municipal Forest Reserve
Originally published by sixmountains.ca As North Cowichan embarks on a public consultation on the future of the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve — better known as Six Mountains — one of the key issues Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Cowichan Tribes purchase of Genoa Bay Farm raises development, logging questions
Originally published by sixmountains.ca Cowichan Tribes has purchased Genoa Bay Farm and plans to develop a residential community on the lands, says Chief William Seymour. Logging may also be in the future, although Seymour said Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Original Pynn Post
North Cowichan contacted racetrack owners before last week’s council meeting Controversial new land offer for Cowichan Tribes ensued By Larry Pynn As a journalist over the years, I have discovered in Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Story of One Tree Gives Hope for the Future of the Six Mountains
Originally published by https://sixmountains.ca It’s just one tree that lived long ago, but its story still resonates and has the capacity to make us remember how things used to be and how they might yet Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: North Cowichan to forge new path for the Six Mountains beginning in early 2020
In a few weeks, North Cowichan residents will get their first peek at plans for a public consultation process into the future of the Six Mountains/Municipal Forest Reserve. Megan Jordan, North Cowichan’s communications and public Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Loaded logging trucks from Mount Tzouhalem rumble through residential area of Maple Bay
Larry Pynn Originally posted on https://sixmountains.ca I saw something very strange this week — a fully loaded logging truck lumbering through the residential streets of The Properties at Maple Bay. The truck was Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: North Cowichan’s Chief Administrative Officer Ted Swabey says he relayed land offer to Cowichan Tribes
Larry Pynn As a journalist over the years, I have discovered in politics that an answer often begets ever more questions. That is certainly the case with a terse one-line statement I received Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Bear Attack at Maple Mountain not substantiated: conservation officers
Social media has been abuzz this week with reports of a black bear attack in Maple Bay. Really? That seemed strange to me. I have been roaming the Six Mountains widely for the past Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Mysterious new land offer to Cowichan Tribes only fuels suspicion of motorsport expansion
The swamp that is the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit issue just got murkier and slipperier. Larry Pynn Last Wednesday, North Cowichan council voted unanimously to set aside last month’s 5-2 vote against Read more…
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