The Only Animal And Living Forest Institute Wants You To Know That Old-Growth Logging Is Harming Our Black Bears.

This week, The Only Animal and Living Forest Institute launched an out of home and social campaign urging people to help save BC’s old growth forests and the black bear population that hibernate within them.

Despite the recommendation of the Old Growth Strategic Review six months ago , British Columbia has only deferred logging in a mere 3,800 hectares of unprotected, old growth forests, leaving the other 99% in threat of being cut down. Old growth forests offer ancient tree structures that are black bears preferred habitats for winter denning, birthing, and early rearing of cubs.

It might be surprising, but The Only Animal and Living Forest Institute aren’t against logging. “We believe there’s a sustainable way to log - by using second-growth, tree farm timber, and there is plenty of that to be had in BC. We don’t have to eliminate 3000 year-old ecosystems and the wildlife that lives there.” says The Only Animal’s Artistic Director, Kendra Fanconi. “When we cut down old growth forests, we take away the irreplaceable denning habitat for black bears. It is a death sentence for the species and a loss for ours as well.”

The compelling project was created by Design and Advertising Agency One Twenty Three West with photography by Bill Hawley and retouching by Kathleen Loski and focuses on the result of logging old-growth forests. Each image shows a piece of wooden furniture as if it were made out of a black bear, creating an arresting visual that might make you think.

Some of the lumber is being shipped overseas and made into cheap furniture. “The idea was to show people what they’re really buying when they get products made from old- growth forests - and then show them how they can help stop it.” says Creative Director at 123w, John Larigakis “Most people don’t know that there are different kinds of logging. If people were aware of what’s at stake, they may take action.” In this case, taking action means signing the petition to help stop logging BC’s old growth forests at Ancient Forest Alliance, and help save the black bears that live in them.

Background review of coastal black bear denning ecology and review of other cavity users of old-growth forests and implications of clearcut logging:

To summarize the existing research done to date, coastal black bears are dependent on old-growth tree structural features, including downed structures, for winter hibernation and birthing and early den rearing of young. Loss of adequate old-growth den structures through clearcut logging and other human developments could affect population survival.

According to an extensive review, McCrory et al. (2010 In Press) concluded:

Our background review of different coastal bear studies clearly showed that both species of coastal bears (grizzly and black bears) are old-growth-dependent for one-half of each year, the hibernation period. As noted in an ecological review of forest management on MacMillan Bloedel’s forest tenure in coastal BC (Bunnell et al. 1998), all of the 150 black bear dens reported in different studies in the Pacific Northwest were in large trees or wooden structures derived from trees (logs, root wads, stumps). None of the observed dens were in rock cavities or excavated in soil. Dens are not only used for winter hibernation but also for natality and as nursery sites. Pregnant females of both species give birth to their young mid-winter in the security of dens. Since the young are born tiny and naked, the dens provide the shelter for the young to develop the first 2-4 months of their lives, growing rapidly on their mother’s rich milk.

A number of researchers have identified negative consequences to black bear survival from shortages of den sites caused by clearcutting of old-growth areas that once supported old-growth den structures; i.e., competition for den areas by bears can lead to conflict and mortality, and lack of security of den sites can lead to increased predation on black bears by their own kind or other predators such as wolves. Pearson (1975) reported the death of a grizzly bear from conflict with another bear for a den site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

ONE TWENTY THREE WEST, 123W.CA

John Larigakis, Creative Director

johnl@123w.ca

604-999-5452