The British Columbia
Environmental Network
Search the Site
| EVENT CALENDAR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2008 | ||||||
| s | m | t | w | t | f | s |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Today's News
November 14, 2005: Great Bear Rainforest – a decisive moment
Great Bear Rainforest – a decisive moment
From Sierra Club of
The environmental community is collectively facing a decisive moment in the history of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Please read the following and fax the Premier at: www.savethegreatbear.org
The scale of agreements in the Great Bear Rainforest go beyond protecting one single valley or establishing of one sustainable business venture - victories which alone are often celebrated by the environmental movement as success. The campaign goals we all embarked on were large and visionary covering 21 million acres, the traditional territory of 17 First Nations, and a region of economic importance to many, including 5 major multinational logging companies. To be successful and sustainable in this complicated political, economic and environmental landscape, conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest must not only protect the ecosystem, but also leverage change in multinational economic forces, respect indigenous cultures, and strengthen local stewardship efforts and economies.
The Government of British Columbia is currently confronted with a choice to support agreements based on the outcomes of government-to-government negotiations that include:
§ A quadrupling of existing protected areas that would see 1/3 of the region off limits to logging. This protected areas network is the largest coastal temperate rainforest protection package in Canadian history and represents an area 5 times the size of
·The percentage of protection (33% of the Great Bear Rainforest) being considered is globally significant. If we compare this to existing protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest at 7%, B.C. where only 12.5% is protected,
·Analysis shows that over 55% of estuaries and 54% of wetlands, approximately 30% of all habitat for Northern Goshawk, grizzly bear, Marbled Murrelet, black-tailed deer and tailed-frog, 34% of all remaining old-growth forest, and 39% of mature forest are found in the protected areas network. Fully, 40% of all documented salmon-bearing stream reaches are entirely included within the proposed protected area system.
·To our collective credit the protected areas network under-represents “rock and ice” and captures much more high value low elevation forests than are represented currently in BC’s park system. Alpine tundra represented in BC’s current park system sits at 29%, while in the Great Bear Rainforest proposed protection would see only 15% in alpine tundra (note: 20% of the Great Bear Rainforest overall is classified as alpine tundra).
§ A commitment to take a small step and create a pathway and structure to see implementation of Ecosystem-based Management by 2009. If collectively, we are able to force government and industry to abide by the adopted Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) Handbook this would result in a full 70% of the GBR’s ecosystems and species in some form of protection at any one time.
§ $60 million in private and philanthropic funds matched by $60 from the province and feds to flow to First Nations based on the ecological results of their land use plans. Up to an additional $80 million in socially responsible investments for native and non-native communities with ties to the current economy of the Great Bear Rainforest. These funds include a conservation endowment fund (which generates income in perpetuity) dedicated solely to science and stewardship activities including restoration projects and conservation management, such as Forest Watchman jobs and stream restoration. An economic development fund and socially responsible investments will be dedicated to ecologically sustainable business ventures such as tourism, alternative energy production, non-timber forest products and shellfish aquaculture. The goal is to enable communities in the region to transition to a new economy, rather than rely on multinational corporations that choose to enter the region (such as aquaculture and logging companies).
As we all work in our varying capacities, from community development to scientific research to negotiations to public engagement to markets work and blockades, it is clear that the results of our collective work have created a fork in the road for this region.
Decisions are being made right now that will determine the future of the Great Bear Rainforest and one party – the Government of
At this moment in time, this is the agreement that will be moved forward or rejected. Those who remain silent now, may be inadvertently choosing to become one in a chorus of many objecting when the government fails to act.
The protected areas network alone is not the only part of this package that addresses the future of the ecology of the Great Bear Rainforest. While it is the largest coastal rainforest protection package in Canadian history, what is on the table for consideration by the Government of British Columbia is about much more.
If approved the stage will be set for further conservation gains through Ecosystem-based Management and resources will be available for economic diversification of regional economies. If agreements are passed protected areas will be legislated and secure (unlike the status of pristine valleys in Clayoquot Sound), and although the groundwork will be laid, our collective work will need to continue to leverage industry and government to take additional steps to secure the ecology of the Great Bear Rainforest. A new EBM Working Group, with additional technical and science expertise, will be put in place to support ongoing decision making in the region. The EBM Working Group will report to a First Nations’ and Provincial government body who will make management decisions. This is a new model, far superior to traditional under-funded monitoring and implementation teams
To be clear, however, Government has not even taken this first step and all that remains certain in the Great Bear Rainforest is 7% in existing protection.
Some of the Facts:
Current Status
New Agreements based on current status of Government-to-Government Negotiations
7% of the region in protection
28% in protection and 33% off limits to logging
1 million acres protected (1.5 million with Haida Gwaii)
5 million acres protected (7 million with Haida Gwaii)
Government makes all decisions
Land and Resource Forum (First Nations Gov’t to Provincial Gov’t)
Government staff do technical work
EBM Working Group oversees outside technical and science expertise
Forest Practices Code down to results-based FRPA
EBM regime by 2009
No Forest Stewardship Certification operators in GBR
EBM sets stage for Forest Stewardship Certification
Economic development is adhoc with local communities having little access to capital and limited partnership options
Coast Opportunities Foundation will provide up to $120 million to First Nations communities to support conservation management and seed capital for new economy.
Socially Responsible Investment package ($80 million) to support sustainable economic diversification in native and non-native communities dependent on the coast’s resources.
All remains at risk and so all are being called upon to bring our collective strength to bear in a final push, instead of simply waiting for failure to unite us once again.
Lisa Matthas – Sierra Club of
Merran Smith – ForestEthics
Amanda Carr - Greenpeace
STAND TALL for the Great Bear Rainforest
www.savethegreatbear.org
Topic(s): Enviro News Releases, Member News , More Enviro News, parks and wilderness news, Tourism News, Wildlife News
Posted By ECOBC
RSS
More Today's News Articles