The following two articles, one from environmental groups, another from

the coastal First Nations, call on the BC Liberal government to honor

their commitment and legislate protection for the Great Bear Rainforest.

Send a message to government through the website:

www.savethegreatbear.org

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The Great Bear Rainforest – a decisive moment

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 Prince Edward Island.

- 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, Canada where only 6.3% is protected or globally

where 10.8% is protected, the gains are clear. For reference, other

regions that are renowned for their protected areas are Costa Rica at

25% and the Great Barrier Reef at 33%.

- 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 British Columbia

– represents the final hold out. The majority of First Nations have

clearly defined their land use plans. The power to decide the fate of

the Great Bear Rainforest is now concentrated in one place.

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.

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 Matthaus – Sierra Club of Canada, BC-Chapter

Merran Smith – ForestEthics

Amanda Carr - Greenpeace

STAND TALL for the Great Bear Rainforest

www.savethegreatbear.org

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Vancouver Sun -- Best Chance for Coastal Rainforest

by Art Sterritt and Guujaaw

October 27th, 2005

Some continue to claim the proposed land use agreements to protect

B.C.'s Central and North Coast -- also known as the Great Bear

Rainforest -- and the islands of Haida Gwaii don't go far enough. Others

think it goes too far.

As 12 first nations who live in these regions, our traditional

territory, and who have 8,000 years of on-the-ground management

experience, we believe those who make those claim fail to consider one

critical question.

How do we integrate the needs of natural systems with the needs of the

people who depend upon them for their livelihoods and way of life?

We live and work on this coast, where the forest and waters are a vital

natural, cultural and economic resource for first nations, coastal

communities and B.C. as a whole.

To be successful, land use agreements must not only preserve the land

and protect its ecological integrity -- they must also respect

indigenous cultures and strengthen local economies.

To be successful, conservation must be sustainable, both ecologically

and economically.

The coastal land use agreements, currently awaiting cabinet approval, do

both.

In these agreements, the total size of protected areas would be

quadrupled to secure many of its most sensitive and intact valleys and

islands.

This will be more than seven million acres of area protected from

logging on the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii.

When approved, it will be the largest temperate rainforest protection

package in Canadian history. The agreements also represent the first

effort to apply ecosystem-based management on all areas outside the

protected areas.

This amounts to re-engineering an entire regional economy, tuning it to

measurable indicators of ecological health and human well-being.

Through a declaration signed in June 2000, Coastal First Nations

committed to making decisions that ensure the well-being of our lands

and waters, and to preserve and renew their territories and cultures

through tradition, knowledge, and authority.

Since then, this position has not changed, only strengthened, as we seek

to find more opportunities for conservation approaches based on

independent science and local and traditional knowledge.

As well, we are looking for approaches for our coastal communities where

unemployment and poverty rates are well above national averages.

The intricate process that has led to this stage represents a commitment

to a new relationship between the provincial government and first

nations.

Beyond mere consultation, this government-to-government relationship

will allow for a more just approach to land use decisions today and in

the future.

We believe the application of these land use agreements present the

world with its best chance yet to integrate conservation, community

development and first nations self-determination. We are supported by

Greenpeace, ForestEthics, the Sierra Club of Canada B.C. Chapter, the

Rainforest Action Network, the Nature Conservancy and others.

We are proud to support these agreements and are working with the

British Columbia government to develop legal and legislative tools to

make them a reality.

Art Sterritt is executive director of the Coastal First Nations of the

Turning Point Initiative Society.

Guujaaw is the president of the Council of Haida Nation.

*** Send a message to the BC government to protect the Great Bear

Rainforest at: www.savethegreatbear.org