Images of the Ingram-Mooto Destruction In Progress

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Ingram-Mooto Rainforest Under Seige! (Satellite-Uploaded Images) Click on an image to see an enlarged version
"I've worked in the logging business for 35 years, starting when I was 16, and this is the first time I've been anywhere so untouched. This is paradise." - Bob MacDonald, Manager of Western Forest's Ingram construction camp. (source: Financial Post, July 18-20, 1998) click here to read WFP's top ten lies.
24 July 1998. With the help of Lighthawk, FAN activists took to the air over the road building operation. The road, an ever growing wound, is sadly just the beginning of what WFP has planned for the Ingram. In 1999 alone, 116 hectares of forest will be clearcut. This figure will rise to 207 hectares in the year 2000. 100% if the logging here is to be done using clearcutting.
23 July 1998. The east main road was being built before our very eyes today. We sat on the side of the road and watched the excavator at work. The noise of splintering and breaking wood could be heard well above the machinery. Two dump trucks, working simultaneously, quickly covered these trees with balast. A full truck would empty its load and drive away only to be replaced by another full one minutes later. It seems ironic that these trees form a base for the road that will secure the destruction of hundreds of acres of forest in this once untouched watershed.
22 July 1998. An accident waiting to happen. The operator of this excavator failed to stop working to allow FAN activists to pass safety. Moments earlier the bucket filled with loose sand, rocks and fallen trees had hovered right above her head. Perhaps we should have accepted WFP's prior offer of hard hats as they can give no guarantees that their crew will put safety first. On second thought, would a hard hat have made much difference?		22 July 1998. As the road progresses, more and more streams are damaged and re-routed through galvanised steel culverts. In a natural system, water is constantly filtered by the soil as it passes through the forest. WFP's road building operation is destroying this delicate balance, polluting streams with sediment and putting fish stocks at risk now and in the future.
22 July 1998. In 12 hours, the natural barrier to the progression of the road shown in yesterday's image was blown away by 3 blasts that echoed around the valley. Today, this rock will be used for road balast, allowing machinery to continue to lengthen the road of destruction.
21 July 1998. At 6.30am this morning work was already in full swing at WFP's road building operation in the Ingram. The west main road stretches behind this driller for 2km. 20 metres in front of the driller is intact temperate rainforest soon to be destroyed.
17 July 1998. A WFP worker digs out one of the many culverts along the logging road after heavy rain fall		17 July 1998. The rain finally stopped for a few hours on Friday giving us the opportunity to witness the extent to which sediment is being washed into nearby streams
16 July 1998. Buisness as usual at WFP's road building operation in the Ingram-Mooto watershed.		16 July 1998. Torrential rain continues to fall on the Ingram. Drainage systems are proving ineffective and are already being pushed to their limits. Top soil and sediment are constantly being washed into nearby streams, threatening fish populations and the blue-listed tailed frog.
15 July 1998. WFP flew Corby Lamb (manager for mid-coast operations) to their road building operation in the Ingram-Mooto yesterday. Overnight, threats of violence have metamorphosed into concern for our safety while we take pictures of the logging road. WFP even offered us hard-hats and reflective jackets -- do they think we'll leave them alone to destroy the forest if they are nice to us?
14 July 1998. Water from the Ingram-Mooto watershed (approximately 109 square kms.) is transferred into Spiller Inlet via Ingram Creek. Its banks now serve to support this bridge. Constructed by WFP, it acts as a fundamental link between the east and west main roads and the workers camp. Without it, further road building on the west main road would be impossible.
13 July 1998. After a weekend of rain in the Ingram-Mooto, this enormous hole, the result of Friday's blasting, has almost filled with water. It was a shocking sight as the sides of the hole were collapsing while we were taking pictures.		13 July 1998. Heavy rain fell throughout the weekend in the Ingram-Mooto watershed. Many of the now unstable banks on the side of the road have collasped as a result. More rain will only serve to wash this material into nearby streams.
13 July 1998. The road building operation in the Ingram is relentless. The driller prepares yet more rock for blasting.		13 July 1998. A barge brings supplies and equipment to the road building crew in the Ingram-Mooto. This grapple yarder previously used in the operation has a flat tyre and is being removed for repairs.
11 July 1998. The holes have been drilled and once the charges are set this hillside will be blown apart and used as road balast.		11 July 1998. Yesterday, an earth shattering blast resonated through the forest. This gaping hole approximately 10 metres deep and 20 metres wide was the result. Unfortunately, even the wide angle of the camera lens is unable to capture the full extent of the destruction.
10 July 1998. A FAN activist stands beside a once towering Western Red Cedar. WFP is removing the old growth forest and installing galvanised steel culverts.		10 July 1998. The only thing that FAN activists could hear as they walked through the forest was the noise of this giant metallic creature devouring trees on the West Main right of way in the Mooto-Ingram Watershed. All the rainforest in this picture will be clearcut by WFP as part of a 18ha cutblock.
9 July 1998. A FAN activist stands in the midst of what was once a lush ancient rainforest to illustrate the scale of the destruction.		9 July 1998. A FAN activist stands in the midst of what was once a lush ancient rainforest to illustrate the scale of the destruction.
9 July 1998. Before blast. Blasting is used along the entire course of the road for ballast and to create drainage ditches.		9 July 1998. After blast. Blasting is used along the entire course of the road for ballast and to create drainage ditches.
9 July 1998. An excavator positioning newly blasted rock to form the base of the logging road. Excavators are also used to move move trees and soil.		9 July 1998. A driller on its way up the East Main road. This piece of machinery is used to drill holes into which the blasting charges are set. The blasted rock is used to from the base of the road.
9 July 1998. After only a few weeks roads already cut deep into the Ingram-Mooto.		9 July 1998. After only a few weeks roads already cut deep into the Ingram-Mooto.
8 July 1998. WFP logging equipment at the landing in Spiller Inlet. Note the navigational aid on the right destroyed by their careless operations..		8 July 1998. The first incision into the Ingram-Mooto watershed - the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
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