Article Sphere Logo
 
Main Article Categories

 Alternative Medicine
 Arts And Entertainment
 Automotives
 Beauty
 Business
 Communications
 Computer And Technology
 Disease And Illness
 Finance
 Food And Beverage
 Health And Fitness
 Home And Family
 Home Based Business
 Insurance
 Internet And E-Business
 Legal
 News And Society
 Pets And Animals
 Product Reviews
 Real Estate
 Recreation And Sports
 Reference And Education
 Self Improvement
 Shopping
 Travel And Leisure
 Women Health And Fitness
 Women Interests And Issues
 Work At Home
 Writing And Speaking
 All 511 Categories
 
"Travel Destinations" Article
 Article Directory Home Travel And Leisure Travel Destinations

Mount Benson Signature Mountain of Nanaimo

By Expert Author: David Stanley
View Summary | Submitted: 2008-02-06 | Word Count: 389 words
David Stanley
Magnificent Mount Benson is one of the scenic wonders of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Mount Benson is the city's backdrop rising 1,019 meters above the Strait of Georgia. The mountain's green forested slopes are favorites of hikers and wildlife, and there's a sweeping view of the Coastal Mountain Range across the water from the rocky summit.

Unfortunately, this paradise is threatened. Forestry companies want to harvest timber on the mountain, while development companies want to build luxury homes and resorts on the cleared lands. If the logging were to go ahead, the ugly clearcuts would be an eyesore for decades to come. Hiking trails would be destroyed and the wildlife driven away. If subdivisions creep up the steep slopes, the damage will be permanent.

It has happened here before. In the 1930s Mount Benson was logged, and in 1951 a fire destroyed the regenerating forest. In the summer of 2003, just as the forest was again taking hold, fresh logging began on the northeast side of Mount Benson in full view of the city. This outraged the citizenry and a campaign to Save Mount Benson was launched.

In 2004 the logging stopped after the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) entered negotiations with landowners to purchase the impacted areas. In 2005 the owners agreed to sell their property to the RDN for $950,000, and in March 2006 the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) stepped forward with a pledge to raise half the money through public contributions.

The 212-hectare Mount Benson Regional Park will stretch along the upper front face of Mount Benson. An adjacent 383 hectares of Provincial Crown Land is currently leased to Malaspina University-College as a teaching woodlot which protects it against clearcutting. Discussions are underway with Island Timberlands and Timber West to purchase or swap other properties on the mountain's front face. Together, NALT and the RDN hope to develop a comprehensive management plan for the mountain.

Aside from its aesthetic value, the Mount Benson Regional Park will make Nanaimo a Canadian eco-tourism superstar with hiking and mountain biking in summer and cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing in winter. The mountain park will complement the existing Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park and splendid Pipers Lagoon and Neck Point parks further up the coast. Virgin rainforests in the nearby Linley Valley are also undergoing park development.
About the Author/Author Bio

The Mount Benson fundraising campaign will close on February 27, 2008, and at last report local businesses and individuals had donated $400,000, still short of the $475,000 NALT has pledged to raise. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Save Mount Benson Campaign, contact the NALT Stewardship Centre, 140 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, tel. (250) 714-1990. Photos and travel information on Nanaimo are available at http://www.gonanaimo.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Mount-Benson-Signature-Mountain-of-Nanaimo/124567

Comments on this Article


More "Travel Destinations" Related Articles

 

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Travel Destinations" article category.

People interested in the above article "Mount Benson Signature Mountain of Nanaimo" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

There can be few places in the world as beautiful as Switzerland. Camping is the best way to enjoy this amazing country, allowing you to feel very much at home with the stunning scenery and natural surroundings. My personal suggestion of a campsite in Switzerland would be Camping Manor Farm, a spacious grassy lakeside site just two miles from Interlaken. Surrounded by mountains and with lovely views of the Eiger, you won’t be short of things to do with its own supply of watersports and activities on site, including mini-golf, volleyball and its own restaurant.
Planning a luxury holiday in Egypt? You'll almost certainly want to visit Cairo. There's plenty to choose from whether you are on a short break, romantic escape or family holiday in Egypt. The Egypt holiday expert from key2Holidays attempts to narrow it down to a top 10 for you...
Paris often referred to as "City of lights" is one place to break free. There are many places which will make you happy and your trip a journey of a lifetime. If somebody wants to choose one place in Europe to visit, then Paris would definitely be one of the best places to visit. From the Eiffel Tower to Arc de Triomphe, everything is marvelous.
My heart pounded as the button pull gently tugged up the eastern side of the famous Rock of Gibraltar, it was hard to imagine that this steep slope had once been home to Gibraltar's large Water Catchment's where work began in 1898. Were the large sheets of corrugated steel and concrete layers which allowed the rainwater to flow down this slope into a channel which in turn fed into a reservoir system deep inside the Rock, still nestled beneath the snowy slope?
There are over 200 inhabited Greek Islands to choose from, as well as a further 5,000 or so to explore, so choosign the right Greek Island holiday can be testing for even the most travelled of visitors. So with a little help, you can ensure that you are basking in the glory of your own personal Greek heaven.
Rajasthan is one of the most admired tourist destinations in India. The place is known for the antique collection of richly decorated forts, palaces and lakes and the lush green vegetation and one of the most unique hill stations in India Mt Abu. It is the perfect destination to spend the holidays in the vibrant colour of this place. Rajasthan is making a prominent mark in the tourist map with its iridescent deserts, picturesque lakes, fascinating heritage, colorful villages and traditional songs and dances.
As the gateway to South Africa for many, it’s hard to imagine a luxury holiday to South Africa without some time spent in Johannesburg. Rather than just spending one night in the city, why not spend an extra day uncovering some of the key attractions before heading off on a tailor made South Africa holiday?
Article Directory Home Travel And Leisure Travel Destinations

Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google Search!
(Search in 26 languages: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, German,
Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Greek, Serbian
Slovak, Hebrew, Swedish, Romanian, Polish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Czech, Croatian, Bulgarian)
 
 
Copyright © 2005 - by Larry Lim, Singapore - Article Search Engine Directory at ArticleSphere.com™
All Rights Reserved Worldwide. All Trademarks and Servicemarks are the property of the respective owners.
Template Design by Internet Marketing Singapore | Internet Marketing | Singapore Classified
Español Français Bulgarian 汉语 漢語 Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Finnish Deutsch Ελληνικά Italiano 日本語 한국어 Norwegian Polish PortRomanian Русско Serbian Slovak Swedish [أربيك] Hebrew