Over the past several days protestors have been rallying on public land near Beavermines and the Castle River area in protest of the government-sanctioned logging project proposed for the spring. Over a dozen protestors have since been ordered off of public land, but say they will not move until they are forcibly evicted.

Bearing signs with such slogans as “Stumpcity, coming soon” and “the great outdoors NOT two-by-fours!” the protestors have gathered for two weeks at the side of HWY 774 South, just west of Beavermines in the Castle Special Management Area to voice their concerns over the clear-cutting of 120 hectares that has been approved by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD). The ASRD has approved this logging as part of their forest management plans, but local residents fear that the clear-cutting will have an extremely harmful impact on the fragile ecosystem.

The extensive logging planned for the area raises concerns over the impact such forestry would have on the watershed, and how such activities would impact the estimated 51 grizzly bears known to frequent the area. Grizzly bears especially are considered a threatened species in Alberta due to the lack of suitable habitat within the province. Despite being numerous in the neighbouring province of British Columbia, Alberta’s forests are restricted to the Rocky Mountain and foothills areas, which are consistently under threat of logging.

The area around Pincher Creek and Beavermines continuing further westward into the mountains is a popular spot for summer hikers and bird-watchers. In winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are activities locals enjoy in addition to watching for the packs of wolves and large herds of elk that sometimes visit the area. Many residents of southern Alberta who use this area for recreation are concerned about what effect logging might have on sustainable outdoor activities.

Logging has always been a concern to the residents of this area, who have been receiving mixed signals from the provincial government for some time. In 1993 this area was designated one of 81 special places within the province, though it has yet to receive its fully protected status. As such, industrial roads already in the region threaten the survival of the ecosystem. These roads are already a concern to residents, who argue that the impact on the region should be minimized in order to protect the delicate balance of the forest. The Castle River area hosts the headwaters to many of the rivers that feed the irrigation ditches in southern Alberta. A little north of the Crowsnest Highway lies the Oldman River headwaters, while directly in the proposed logging area are the headwaters for the St. Mary’s and Belly Rivers.

The 20km band of trees within the province of Alberta is considered to be the playground of many of the provincial residents. Local business owners argue that they rely on the tourism brought into the area by the people vacationing amongst the mountain forests. If those forests were to disappear, locals predict a massive impact on the tourism industry in the area – an industry that many residents depend on economically.

Activism groups have been petitioning the government for years asking to protect this area permanently. Members of the Stop Castle Logging Group and the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition have continually occupied the road to halt the influx of logging equipment for several days in rotating shifts. The most recent rally held on Jan. 22 saw a crowd of 150 – 200 people from all over the southern province gather together to voice their concerns and show their support for the protection of the forest.