© McAllister/Raincoast

The Government of British Columbia has endorsed a proposal by Greenpeace, other environmental groups, logging companies and other stakeholders to protect 20 critical pristine valleys in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest. The government also endorsed a major reform that would end destructive logging practises in this globally threatened forest.

The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest remaining ancient temperate rainforest in the world. It is home to thousands of species of plants, birds and animals including grizzly bears and the rare Kermode or spirit bears, wolves, bald eagles and endangered salmon runs.

Following an intensive global campaign in the market place over the past five years, Greenpeace and other environmental groups (1) have been in negotiations with logging companies, First Nations, coastal communities, workers and other stakeholders to agree upon a process which would end the conflict in the rainforest. The first phase of that agreement was endorsed today by the BC government. It provides for permanent protection of 20 rainforest valleys, deferrals of logging in 68 valleys, and an ongoing process towards protecting the Great Bear Rainforest. Once the plan is phased in, it will also guarantee that future logging practices in other areas of the Great Bear Rainforest will become more ecologically responsible.

The Spirit Bear is found only in the Great Bear Rainforest and nowhere else on earth. © O'Neil/Greenpeace 2001

"This is a tremendous leap forward in securing the future of the Great Bear Rainforest," said Tamara Stark, Greenpeace Canada Forest Campaigner. "Today is a day for celebration. Tomorrow we can continue the work to ensure that the long term health of the Great Bear Rainforest is guaranteed."

The BC government's endorsement follows an intense global campaign by environmental organizations targeting the trade and investments of companies involved with logging the rainforest. In recent months, Greenpeace has been increasing pressure by conducting a world-wide campaign targeting coastal logging companies. Greenpeace successfully forced International Forest Products (Interfor) and West Fraser to agree to a long-term moratorium on logging and the need for protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest.

During this campaign Greenpeace carried out protests and other campaign activities in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan, with blockades of wood shipments, protests at embassies, retail outlets and lumber yards, and back room discussions with customers of the BC companies, to persuade investors and customers to demand an end to the destruction.

As a result of the campaign by Greenpeace and other environmental groups, British and Canadian fund managers, including the Royal Bank, have divested shares in logging companies, and dozens of companies have voiced strong concerns over the practices of BC logging companies.

These include Home Depot (the world's largest "Do-it-yourself" store) and powerful pulp buyers such as the German paper and magazine association. Companies such as England's Amdega (one of the world's largest conservatory manufacturers), Auspine (Australian timber importer), the Italian supermarket chain Coop, the Belgian Timber Trade Federation (representing Belgian timber importers) and other companies in New Zealand, China and The Netherlands have all recently ceased buying products derived from Interfor. In Japan alone, more than 70 companies including Mitsubishi and Fujiya have now made a commitment to stop buying products from Interfor.

" Logging companies destroying ancient forests around the world and their customers should take note of what has happened here today in British Columbia. The BC government and the logging industry have shown that it is no longer acceptable to continue to destroy these priceless global treasures," said Tim Birch, Greenpeace International Forests Campaigner. "The global demand for products from ancient forest destruction will continue to decrease as informed customers make responsible choices. Greenpeace will be stepping-up its campaign to target governments and companies who fail to take action to protect the world's last remaining ancient forests." (2)

© McAllister/Raincoast

Greenpeace suspended its campaign to target Interfor, West Fraser and their customers in the international marketplace last week after both companies agreed to endorse the plan that includes protection of key valleys, moratoria on logging in other valleys and the resolution of conflicts in the Elaho Valley north of Vancouver and proposed logging in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

View a map of the Great Bear Rainforest protected and deferred status areas.

Read the history of Canada's ancient rainforest campaign.

Questions and answers about the Great Bear Rainforest agreement

Notes:

1. Environmental groups include: Greenpeace, Sierra Club of B.C., Rainforest Action Network and Forest Ethics.

2. Greenpeace International is running a global campaign to protect the world's last remaining ancient forests including the Russian boreal and the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the Amazon and the Congo Basin.

For more information about Greenpeace's ancient forests campaign, email: guestforest@ams.greenpeace.org