A group by the name of Forest Ethics is using YouTube to spread a message - West Fraser is cutting down Caribou. The video states caribou populations in Canada have fallen almost 50%, and are on the verge of being endangered.

West Fraser released a counter to the claims[pdf] of Forest Ethics. However, it seems to have just turned into a cat fight. To me, the most important fact is whether the mountain caribou is in fact in danger of being extinct, and it appears that it is.

"West Fraser "Fact": Government has confirmed that in fact the caribou herds in BC's operating areas are stable and in Alberta, some herds in West Fraser's operating areas are actually increasing in size.

Reality:

In Alberta two of the three herds subject to West Fraser management are considered by government as at "immediate risk of extirpation," or local extinction.2 While one of these herds, the Little Smoky herd, has increased over the last year, this is probably because over 100 wolves were killed in the herd's range, an unnatural intervention, and an inappropriate way to maintain caribou herds in the long term. The third herd, the A La Peche herd, now appears to have fragmented, with many animals now largely avoiding the West Fraser Foothills management area by remaining year round in protected habitat.3 This new behaviour is not natural, and the future for this herd is very uncertain. Alberta Newsprint Company, which is half owned by West Fraser and is reported on in their annual reports, is still planning logging in the winter range of this latter herd." - Source: Forest Ethics

Here's the video for your enjoyment. In conjunction with the previous article, it seems Forest Ethics is not being misleading - but I still urge you to see both.



When Victoria Secret boycotted West Fraser, they just came up with the same old excuses in the original rebuttal, which have been countered. Additionally, it appears that West Fraser is flat out wasting wood as well.

Going a bit further back in time, West Fraser has had some serious battles with exporting to the U.S. as well. Back in 2001, West Fraser released a 5-year plan (the most recent one evaluated at InfoRain), and all in all, it looks like West Fraser is trying to get away with as much as it can.

Is West Fraser being a responsible citizen? I certainly can't say they are.