A New Brunswick woman is worried J.D. Irving Ltd. plans to harvest the old-growth Acadian forest surrounding Ayers Lake.
"This spring, [I] learned that they're planning to log within the unique area," said Barb Brown, who has visited the site regularly for almost two decades.
"It's everything to me," she said. "It's inspirational. It gives me peace."
Brown said she understands J.D. Irving Ltd. (J.D.I.) owns the estimated 500 hectares and that it was purchased for logging, but she still hopes to convince the company to hold off.
In 1995, Brown was part of a group that did exactly that. The area was slated to be logged, but the company ended up designating the area as "unique" instead.
People can walk a series of trails to see everything from the interlocking overhead canopy, to the vernal pools where frogs and salamanders lay their eggs.
"Scientists have come here this summer and it's definitely a gem," said Brown.
"And there's been a new effort again to try and encourage, or try and find some win-win situation where this could be set aside as positive PR because it is so magnificent."
The company hasn't made any decisions, John Gilbert, manager of fish and wildlife for J.D.I., told CBC News. But any harvesting won't spoil the view, he said.
"The site is set aside for scenic beauty and again, what you can't see from the lake and what you can't see from the lookout may be subject to some future forestry operations, but at the present time, they have not been finalized."
J.D.I. spokeswoman Mary Keith said the company is very aware of the balance between nature preservation and its core business.


