Unless the public opposes it, a massive stretch of forest in Kananaskis could be clearcut this winter. Two years ago, the same area around Loomis Creek was set to be clearcut. At that time, a massive public movement mobilized to oppose the clearcutting, but the government didn’t listen. West Fraser Timber has announced that it is planning once again to clearcut our public forests in the South Kananaskis, starting as early as Dec. 1. I went out last weekend to join the blockaders who have dedicated the past two months to raising awareness. …No matter their particular angle, everyone agreed that clearcut logging is a bad way to manage our public forests. It erodes soil and destroys wildlife habitat, stripping away biodiversity and turning ancient ecosystems into muddy fields. In place of complex old growth, we get monocultures of replanted pines that serve the logging industry, but nothing else. 

Additional coverage in HighRiver Online, by Julie Patton: Eastern slope defenders rally to stop Highwood logging