CanWel accused of clearcutting endangered pine

VANCOUVER — A B.C. conservation group has accused CanWel Fibre of “liquidating” the endangered whitebark pine tree, CBC News reports. “Canwel [Fibre] is logging in sub-alpine areas where rare whitebark pine is found,” said Wildsight spokesperson Eddie Petryshen, “and despite past promises that they won’t cut this endangered species, we’ve seen large piles of trees, some centuries old.” The group says CanWel has cut more than 35 truckloads of the species over the past 18 months. The B.C government is looking to prepare recommended standards for logging on private lands by the fall. CanWel did not respond to CBC’s request for comment.