One-quarter of old-growth forest wildlife at risk

March 28, 2005 -

New study shows logging as main threat in southwestern B.C.

VANCOUVER – One-quarter of all animals dependent on remaining old-growth forests in southwestern British Columbia are threatened with regional extinction, says a new peer-reviewed study from the David Suzuki Foundation.

In the latest issue of the scientific journal Biodiversity, Dr. Stephen Yezerinac, of Bishop’s University, and the David Suzuki Foundation’s Dr. Faisal Moola examined government data to show 17 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish are in danger of disappearing from the same old-growth forest habitat that is home to Canada’s last remaining spotted owls.

“Over 10 years, the Canadian population of spotted owls has declined by nearly half in southwestern B.C. Our research shows that other old-growth dependent wildlife are similarly at risk,” says Dr. Moola.

Twenty-two northern spotted owls remain in Canada and since 1940 logging has been responsible for more than 80 per cent of the loss of its old-growth habitat. The causes of declines and threats to the spotted owl are varied, but the scientists found that logging is the most significant threat to spotted owls and most other wildlife in the region.

“Any recovery effort must begin and end with habitat protection for all animals and plants that share the landscape with spotted owls,” Moola says.

At present, 1300 wildlife species are at risk in B.C. and the province does not have legislated endangered species protection. And while the province is scheduled to release a spotted owl recovery strategy in the next few weeks, Dr. Moola is wary that such efforts will fall devastatingly short of a remedy.

Among the options often considered in recovery efforts include captive breeding scenarios and other invasive actions such as shooting predators. “Captive breeding of the spotted owl won’t save the other 17 wildlife species at risk – animals such as tailed frogs, coastal marbled murrelets, northern goshawks and fishers,” says Dr. Moola.

Spotted owls are particularly vulnerable to logging of their habitat because of nesting and hunting habits. These birds do not build nests, but lay eggs in trees hollowed out by age or decay, which typically only happens in older trees. When a forest is cleared and prey populations decline, the birds starve. The other 17 animal species have similar specialized habitat requirements offered by the old growth forest.

For more information contact:
Jason Curran
Communications specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Tel: 604-732-4228, ext. 229