Today, the Forest Action Network (FAN) officially launched its campaign to de-survey active clearcut logging in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Six volunteers are removing flagging tape and painting over survey markings, just ahead of an International Forest Products (Interfor) logging crew in the remote Takush Valley.

The Takush is one of the most important grizzly-salmon watersheds in the Great Bear Rainforest, and many environmental groups have called for its protection. So far, the activists have almost finished de-surveying two planned clearcuts. Unfortunately, Interfor was faster than we expected, and had already finished logging a number of areas inside the pristine part of the Takush, southwest of Lenora Lake (see photos below).

According to a study released by the FAN in April, approximately 80% of logging in the Great Bear Rainforest is still clearcutting, despite promises to the contrary made by the BC Government one year ago. In addition, logging is ongoing in numerous pristine valleys and other intact areas, and to date, not a single area has been protected.

De-surveying involves the removal of flagging tape marking clearcut and road boundaries, as well as painting over survey markings on trees using special camouflage tree-marking paint. "Hopefully, our de-surveying campaign will draw attention to the ongoing destruction, unresolved by the much-touted Great Bear Rainforest Agreement," states FAN¹s Robin Greene. "At the same time, we hope it will encourage dinosaurs like Interfor to stay out of the old growth forest."