Peachland residents gathered on Friday afternoon (March 19) along Highway 97 to bring awareness to the negative impact of clearcut logging.

Forest March BC is now in its third year of organizing marches to call on the provincial government to reform B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 forestry legislation. The organization has also said that its goal is to 香蕉视频直播渦nite communities across B.C. to push for equitable, nature-based, and community first approaches to forestry management香蕉视频直播�.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of this year香蕉视频直播檚 marches and activities moved virtually and were replaced with art installations and other informational activities instead.

But in Peachland, several residents still came out as a show of solidarity with other communities and to show people that the effect of clearcut logging in this particular community affects flooding as well as the water source.

香蕉视频直播淧eachland香蕉视频直播檚 freshwater supply is under threat by numerous industrial activities including clear-cut logging in the watershed,香蕉视频直播� Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance (PWPA) communications chair Alex Morrison said.

香蕉视频直播淲ith spring floods on Okanagan Lake becoming a regular event as a result of these logging practices, PWPA is demonstrating to our provincial government that they are failing Peachland and other similar communities across B.C.香蕉视频直播�

PWPA director Taryn Skalbania said 27 communities throughout the province gathered, in one way or another, to raise awareness about the issue.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e telling our government we don香蕉视频直播檛 like the way that our forests are being managed,香蕉视频直播� she said.

As logging continues, Skalbania said that water quality, flood control, and wildlife biodiversity are all suffering as a result.

香蕉视频直播淎nd it香蕉视频直播檚 different in each community. Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 all about water quality. We had to put a $24 million water treatment plant in partially due to clearcut logging and it香蕉视频直播檚 also about flooding.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淔loods don香蕉视频直播檛 happen on Okanagan Lake, they happen in the watershed. They happen because of excess runoff due to too much logging and deforestation in the high altitudes,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Skalbania added that while trees are a renewable source, they take time to grow back and the industry doesn香蕉视频直播檛 give them enough time to do just that.

香蕉视频直播淲ho香蕉视频直播檚 going to wait a thousand years for that seedling to grow again?香蕉视频直播�

READ: