An online petition is making the rounds in Revelstoke after a group of residents concerned about logging plans in Revelstoke’s main cross-country skiing and mountain biking trails network decided to take it to the community.

The Mount Macpherson recreation area is home to the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club and summer bike trails operated by the Revelstoke Cycling Association. A block of land potentially up to be logged is part of the popular TNT trail.

(The Revelstoke Mountaineer has reported on this story since we launched a month ago. See our page dedicated to past stories about the Mount Macpherson logging issue.)

One of the blocks includes a large cutblock right next to the new Revelstoke Nordic Lodge, which was completed several years ago. Another sits in a central area of the trail network.

The area off Highway 23 South is managed by BC Timber Sales (BCTS), a government agency who manages about 20 per cent of the province’s timber sales and sets the market price for timber. Their logging proposal for the area includes planning and dedicating two cutblocks, which are then auctioned off to logging contractors.

The logging isn’t anticipated until 2016 but the group, Citizens for Macpherson, believe the value of tourism that the area brings Revelstoke is more beneficial for the city than income from logging.

“It is an area enjoyed by many outdoor recreationalists including mountain bikers, hikers, runners, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, ski tourers, wildlife and bird watchers, berry and mushroom pickers,” their statement on change.org says.

“Considerable expense and volunteer effort has been invested in developing the trail networks and infrastructure. The area is experiencing a substantial increase in winter and summer visitation due to these efforts. Revelstoke is quickly becoming well known as a destination for mountain bikers and Nordic skiers.”

The petition is focused on gauging the amount of community concern and connecting with political powers before deciding on the next step forward.

The petition, which is addressed to to local, regional and provincial government, has a specific ask: “Please suspend all logging activities affecting the Mt. Macpherson recreation area until a publicly acceptable solution is found that considers and legally protects all values and interests (recreational, quality of life, economic) in the area.”

The Revelstoke Mountaineer spoke with a petition organizer, who declined to be interviewed publicly for the purposes of this story.

Communication appears to still be open between the logging companies, recreational clubs and local citizens.  There was an information session in mid-January with BCTS, and several logging companies, including Stella-Jones, which has significant timber holdings in the area.

The petition has created lots of pubic comment so far: “The ability to run on soft trails through standing forests in close proximity to town is one of the main reasons I moved here and go to considerable lengths to stay here!” commented one person on the change.org petition page.

Another writes: “I believe there has to be limits with logging in high use designated recreational areas. It is far too shortsighted to let this happen when so much time and money has been invested in making Revelstoke a tourist destination.”

Here is a link to the petition.

An online petition is making the rounds in Revelstoke after a group of residents concerned about logging plans in Revelstoke’s main cross-country skiing and mountain biking trails network decided to take it to the community.

The Mount Macpherson recreation area is home to the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club and summer bike trails operated by the Revelstoke Cycling Association. A block of land potentially up to be logged is part of the popular TNT trail.

(The Revelstoke Mountaineer has reported on this story since we launched a month ago. See our page dedicated to past stories about the Mount Macpherson logging issue.)

One of the blocks includes a large cutblock right next to the new Revelstoke Nordic Lodge, which was completed several years ago. Another sits in a central area of the trail network.

The area off Highway 23 South is managed by BC Timber Sales (BCTS), a government agency who manages about 20 per cent of the province’s timber sales and sets the market price for timber. Their logging proposal for the area includes planning and dedicating two cutblocks, which are then auctioned off to logging contractors.

The logging isn’t anticipated until 2016 but the group, Citizens for Macpherson, believe the value of tourism that the area brings Revelstoke is more beneficial for the city than income from logging.

“It is an area enjoyed by many outdoor recreationalists including mountain bikers, hikers, runners, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, ski tourers, wildlife and bird watchers, berry and mushroom pickers,” their statement on change.org says.

“Considerable expense and volunteer effort has been invested in developing the trail networks and infrastructure. The area is experiencing a substantial increase in winter and summer visitation due to these efforts. Revelstoke is quickly becoming well known as a destination for mountain bikers and Nordic skiers.”

The petition is focused on gauging the amount of community concern and connecting with political powers before deciding on the next step forward.

The petition, which is addressed to to local, regional and provincial government, has a specific ask: “Please suspend all logging activities affecting the Mt. Macpherson recreation area until a publicly acceptable solution is found that considers and legally protects all values and interests (recreational, quality of life, economic) in the area.”

The Revelstoke Mountaineer spoke with a petition organizer, who declined to be interviewed publicly for the purposes of this story.

Communication appears to still be open between the logging companies, recreational clubs and local citizens.  There was an information session in mid-January with BCTS, and several logging companies, including Stella-Jones, which has significant timber holdings in the area.

The petition has created lots of pubic comment so far: “The ability to run on soft trails through standing forests in close proximity to town is one of the main reasons I moved here and go to considerable lengths to stay here!” commented one person on the change.org petition page.

Another writes: “I believe there has to be limits with logging in high use designated recreational areas. It is far too shortsighted to let this happen when so much time and money has been invested in making Revelstoke a tourist destination.”

Here is a link to the petition.