Harcourt surprised at opposition to Clayoquot plans

Former premier Mike Harcourt says he's surprisedand disappointed some environmental groups are opposing the latest land use plans for Clayoquot Sound.

The land was reopened to possible logging in a decisionlast Julyby the provincially appointed Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board. The board and five Nuu-chah-nulth nations agreed to a new watershed management plan that could include road-building and logging.

The decision affects 90,000 hectares of pristine forest on Vancouver Island's west coast.

Environmentalists were outraged, claiming those plans violate an understanding they had with local First Nations.

"I was quite surprised when I heard the negative comments of some of the environmental people involved, because I felt they were going against the interests of the Nuu-chah-nulth people," said Harcourt, adding that the plans are entirely consistent with the principles his government endorsed in 1993.

"I understandthe Nuu-chah-nulth leaders were surprised, andvery upset, very angry about it and expressed that in very pungent terms to some of the environmental leaders," he said.

Environmentally sensitive land use

Harcourt says it was never his government's plan to end all logging in the Clayoquot, just that it be done in a more sensitive way.

Harcourt paid a steep political price for his so-called "Clayoquot Compromise" in 1993. Even some members of his own party were critical of the plan to allow logging on more than60 per cent of the land.

But some of the anger died down when the NDP government signed an agreement with local First Nations. It gave them a big say over land use planning through the Central Region Board.

Later, the government adopted a scientific panel report meant to end the era of huge clearcuts.