Dear editor,
Everybody who visits Hornby Island loves Tribune Bay Park. It is a jewel.
BC Parks is planning to put a 40-site campground in the forest behind Tribune Bay despite the fact that the land is designated as “primary class wetland” on the island's environmentally sensitive area mapping in the Official Community Plan. It is also a “protected” area on the Islands Trust protected areas map
It is mapped as a protected wetland for obvious reasons: it is wet, biodiverse and ecologically sensitive. It is the wrong location for a campground. It is a beautiful forest with wet areas, dry patches, old-growth trees, dead trees full of woodpecker holes and a lush understory of ferns, mosses and fungi. There is no way to put a campground and the infrastructure for it in this forest without compromising the integrity of its ecosystem.
The tree report BC Parks had done calls for 350 trees (standing dead and living) to be taken down to implement the project. Because it is a wet area, many trees are shallow-rooted and more will come down after every winter storm.
Islanders have learned that BC Parks is above local laws when it comes to land use. They do not have to follow local land use guidelines that were set up to protect vulnerable habitats. They do not have to listen to what local communities say. It is disrespectful to our community to put in a campground when more than 4,200 people have signed a petition (tribunebayecosystem.wordpress.com/services/about-2/) saying they do not want it in this location. It is disrespectful to damage the beautiful natural places that are our wealth.
Tribune Bay Provincial Park is more than 230 acres. There are other places in the park where a campground would have much less impact, but BC Parks planners seem unwilling to even consider the idea of an alternate location. It isn't logical. It is time to put this project on hold and take the time to do it in a way that doesn't damage the ecology of this forest and wetland and our community's relationship with BC Parks.
Submitted by Jodi Snijders on behalf of the Friends of Tribune Bay Ecosystem