BC Liberals and NDP agree on the success of the Great Bear Rainforest agreement
Following this video, please find press releases from the government and the opposition. Please feel free to leave your comments! And, speaking of saving rainforests, David Evans from the Stick is still raising funds for a Walbran sign on Pat Bay.
First, the government press release
Globally significant landmark agreement reached
Read the Government release here
First Nations, environmental groups and coastal forest industry representatives joined the Province today to celebrate achieving ecosystem-based management in the Great Bear Rainforest.
The Great Bear Rainforest was established through land-use decisions announced in 2006. This globally unique area covers 6.4 million hectares on British Columbia’s north and central coast, and is home to 26 separate First Nations. Ecosystem-based management in the area is defined as “concurrent achievement of high levels of ecological integrity and high levels of human well-being.”
Under the new Great Bear Rainforest land-use order, ecological integrity is achieved through increasing the amount of protected old-growth forest to 70% from 50%. As well, eight new special forest management areas covering almost 295,000 hectares will be off-limits to logging. Six may receive additional protection based on ongoing discussions with First Nations. With the new measures, 85% of the forest will be protected and 15% will be available for logging, supporting local jobs.
The land-use order also addresses First Nations’ cultural heritage resources, freshwater ecosystems and wildlife habitat. The amount of habitat protected for the marbled murrelet, northern goshawk, grizzly bear, mountain goat and tailed frog will increase as new reserves required by the order are developed.
The Province has signed reconciliation protocols with the Coastal First Nations and Nanwakolas Council. Through these government-to-government relationships, separate human well-being agreements have been reached to address issues of special concern to each group of First Nations. Most notably, both have an increased stake in the forest sector. The commercial grizzly bear hunt will cease in Coastal First Nations’ traditional territories.
The Province has committed to amending atmospheric benefit-sharing agreements with Nanwakolas and Coastal First Nations. This will increase the forest carbon credits they can use to support implementation of ecosystem-based management and community development projects of importance to them.
Because of the uniqueness of the Great Bear Rainforest and the innovative elements in the new and amended agreements, the B.C. government intends to introduce supporting legislation in spring 2016.
Quick Facts:
- In 2006, the coastal land use decision protected up to 2.1 million hectares of the 6.4-million-hectare Great Bear Rainforest – an area equivalent in size to Ireland.
- In 2009, First Nations, the Province, environmental groups and coastal forest companies agreed to a five-year review of the implementation of ecosystem-based management in the Great Bear Rainforest.
- In 2010 and 2011, the Province reached reconciliation protocols with the Coastal First Nations and Nanwakolas Council.
Learn More:
- Great Bear Rainforest land use order:https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/TasB/SLRP/GBR_LUO_2016.html
- Link to video: https://youtu.be/nWtvgIUaerY
- Link to factsheet: http://www.naturallywood.com/resource/great-bear-rainforest-factsheet
Next, the release from the NDP
Horgan calls Great Bear Rainforest agreement ‘a tremendous achievement’
B.C. New Democrat Leader, John Horgan, issued the following statement on the signing of the Great Bear Rainforest agreement:
“The Great Bear Rainforest agreement is a tremendous achievement for all involved. First Nations, environmental organizations, local communities and the forest industry should be commended for continuing to work towards finalizing this landmark agreement.
“We are proud to have played a role in starting the process when the New Democrats were in government.
“The agreement shows how important it is to have the full involvement of First Nations when determining the future of B.C.’s environment, resources, culture and economy. Too often, Premier Christy Clark leaves First Nations behind in pursuit of her political agenda.”
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
- BC Chamber of Commerce Passes Resolution Calling on the Province to Expand Old-Growth Forest Protections
- Group seeks to share information on forestry corruption, collusion
- Log Watch launches, and starts counting
- NDP critical of increasing carbon emissions under Clark’s leadership
- Local business owner launches website and billboard, calling for a stop to old growth logging
- BC Liberals and NDP agree on the success of the Great Bear Rainforest agreement
- Sooke entrepreneur seeks to raise funds for Walbran awareness billboard on Pat Bay Highway
- Supreme court rules in favour of logging company Teal-Jones
- LETTER: Update on clear-cut logging of old growth at Carmanah/Walbran
Hi Neighbours, unfortunately, the reality of this agreement is, it’s a great PR move for Clark/Libs, for the bears and trees, not so much. In fact, not much at all. Omitted from the main press releases are the pertinent info, and to make it easier I’m pasting here Comments from folks who signed the Change.org petition to save the Great Bear Rainforest; the truth of the matter is in these Comments:
Brittany Ann · Victoria, British Columbia
Unfortunately the “actual legislated level of protection is only 38%, and the remaining part of the coast – approximately 62% – will be placed under “Ecosystem Based Management” or EBM, which is a land-use designation that still allows mining, logging, large-scale tourism and other industrial activities to occur.. While EBM offers more stringent management guidelines it should not be confused with core protection or a Conservancy type designation.” As per Pacific Wild. Still a win! But don’t be fooled by the media.
Like · Reply · 10 · 1 February 2016 22:58
Charlie Spink
Thanks Brittany. EBM or SMZ, same unlegislated and unenforcable wishful thinking. I draw your attention to a case in point, the Central Walbran Valley which Is a Special Management Zone with primary objectives for preserving old growth: the first 4 being environmental – biodiversity, wildlife, fish and water and finally recreation.
(The secondary objectives are human uses: visual, tourism, timber, cultural, access and caving)
Despite the Special Management Zone “protecting” the Central Walbran, it is being logged into oblivion right now.
Like · Reply · 5 · 1 February 2016 23:44
Tracy Henwood · Parksville, British Columbia
#ChristyClark EBM ??? Is this true??? And if it is, why aren’t you telling us all of the facts regarding this so calling win for our coastal environment. ?
Like · Reply · 1 · 2 February 2016 02:49
Brittany Ann · Victoria, British Columbia
Charlie Spink What’s happening in the Walbran is absolutely heartbreaking. It paints a pretty clear picture of what this government’s priorities are. Sadly, I think the Great Bear agreement was mostly a political move – gotta look good for the upcoming election. UGH
Like · Reply · 3 · 2 February 2016 08:46
Gnoah Buddy · St.Clair College, Windsor, Canada
Charlie Spink Well that just FN great isn’t it…so what the hell is this announcement all about ??
Like · Reply · 22 hrs
Matante Lyne · Montreal, Quebec
Thanks for the new information. Since you know more about that “false victory” why don’t you start a new petition explaining the real story and get peoples to stand against this smoke mirror
Like · Reply · 22 hrs
Charlie O’Shea · SAIT
I guess governments and the general public forget the past. The largest anti logging protest in 1993 to stop Mac Blo from logging Meares Island with the help of Greenpeace and Midnight Oil and all the people who blocked and got arrested should be remembered. People need to stand up and take the time to say no. If we don’t fight for change we just end up getting mowed over. History repeats itself.
Like · Reply · 10 · 1 February 2016 23:48
what never fails to astonish me throughout my life, is how greed and power take precedent again and again over protecting the Earth and everyone/thing who lives here. My conclusion is the people who choose wealth and power over goodness are sociopaths and psychopaths, they are mentally ill and because they are so unhappy and so maladjusted they take their anger and illness out on everyone.
But the bears themselves are not protected is my understanding. I would love.clarity