For immediate release
May 26, 2003

Record-size Douglas Fir (named "Grandma Betty" after the imprisoned Betty Krawczyk) discovered in the endangered Upper Walbran Valley

Weyerhaeuser continues to clearcut centuries old giants

"Grandma Betty" - the fourth widest recorded Douglas fir recorded in Canada [More photos]

Wilderness Committee campaigners have confirmed the discovery of Canada's 4th widest recorded Douglas fir, measuring 3.13 metres (10.3 feet) in diametre, in the endangered Upper Walbran Valley by the West Coast Trail on southern Vancouver Island. The gargantuan tree within Weyerhaeuser's logging tenure has been named "Grandma Betty", after the currently imprisoned 74 year old environmentalist Betty Krawczyk. Krawczyk was arrested earlier this month for blockading Weyerhaeuser's logging operations in the Upper Walbran.

The discovery of Grandma Betty even tops last October's discovery in the Upper Walbran of the 2.72 metre (9 feet) diametre "Alvarez fir", also in Weyerhaeuser's logging tenure, which has been pushed into 5th place as BC's widest Douglas fir. The WCWC will register both trees, Grandma Betty and the Alvarez fir, after official measurements have been taken with a BC Registered Professional Forester (RPF) in July.

Images of the tree "Grandma Betty" can be viewed on the WCWC Victoria website. Grandma Betty is shown in the 3rd and 5th row of photos.

The government's official "BC Big Tree Registry" can be viewed at http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/cdc/register.htm

"This further demonstrates the need to protect the exceptional ecological features in the Upper Walbran Valley. Through their continued logging, Weyerhaeuser and Timber West threaten some of Canada's very largest ancient trees, species at risk like nesting Marbled Murrelet seabirds and Queen Charlotte goshawks, and endangered populations of spawning coho salmon and steelhead trout," says Ken Wu, executive director of the WCWC Victoria.

Great grandmother Betty Krawczyk currently sits in the Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women awaiting her trial on June 16 in the Supreme Court of BC. She was arrested earlier this month for blockading Weyerhaeuser's logging operations in the Upper Walbran. Krawczyk was also protesting the Campbell government's so-called "Working Forest" proposal, which if enacted would obstruct the protection of BC's public forests in such places as the Upper Walbran Valley.

Incredibly, Krawczyk has not been charged with any crime (neither violating a court injunction or mischief) - yet is being held in prison until her trial resumes in several weeks. Vancouver lawyer Cameron Ward will be representing Krawczyk this Wednesday in court, arguing for a "habeas corpus" (ie. Latin for "release the body") to have Krawczyk released. Ward will argue that it is unlawful to hold someone in prison for over 24 hours - let alone for 5 weeks - without charge.

After the blockade ended a couple weeks ago, Weyerhaeuser has continued to cut centuries old giant Douglas fir and red cedars in the Upper Walbran, further fragmenting the nation's most spectacular ancient forests. Huge, 2.2 metre (7 feet) diametre Douglas firs, centuries old, have been cut in the past week. WCWC campaigners were also astounded and saddened to find a 15 feet diametre western red cedar stump, estimated to be 1300 years old (by counting the growth rings). The stump lies among dozens of other 1000+ year old cedar stumps in an area clearcut in the late 1990's in Weyerhaeuser's tenure.

Images of the recent logging and the giant stump are also available on the WCWC website accessed through the home page on the "Recent Walbran Images" heading.

"Cutting down the last remnants of our ancient Douglas firs and western red cedars is like shooting black rhinos. Only 1% of BC's original old-growth Douglas firs remain. In addition, BC now contains 95% of the Earth's remaining old-growth red cedars after they've been logged-out in the US and most of southern BC," laments Wu. "It's only a matter of time before the citizens of BC and international consumers force Weyerhaeuser, Timber West, and the BC government to put an end to logging special places like the Upper Walbran. The timber barons will make it more painful and damaging to themselves by dragging out this conflict."

For information on the Walbran's giant trees and giant clearcuts contact:
Ken Wu, Executive Director, WCWC Victoria (250) 388-9292

For information on Betty Krawczyk's trial, contact:
Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, WCWC Vancouver (604) 683-8220