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April 4, 2001
Questions and answers on the Great Bear Rainforest agreement

What is the agreement that has been reached in British Columbia?

20 ecologically critical valleys in the Great Bear Rainforest will be protected from industrial logging.
Logging will be deferred in 68 more valleys for 12-24 months while a management plan based on ecological principles is developed.
Logging companies will continue clearcutting in numerous areas of the central and north coast -largely in valleys already severely impacted by years of industrial logging.
First Nation and provincial governments will work with community representatives, environmental groups, companies, workers and other stakeholders.
Environmental groups hope the outcome will ensure the long-term health of this endangered global treasure.

Background:

The areas in question are unceded First Nations territory, yet First Nations have historically derived little benefit from economic activity on their lands
Fully one-quarter of the world's remaining large tracts of intact temperate rainforest are in coastal BC and the Great Bear Rainforest comprises the largest portion of intact areas.
97 percent of the logging undertaken in this region is still by industrial clearcutting
The BC Ministry of Forests acknowledges that BC forests are being logged at a rate which is at least 28 percent above the government's definition of sustainable levels
Industrial clearcutting damages salmon spawning habitat, causes landslides and threatens the viability, if not the very survival, of species at risk such as grizzly bear and the rare white Kermode or "Spirit" bear.

Will this mean an end to markets campaigning?

The markets campaigns will be transformed to deliver a message about the solutions rather than garnering pressure on BC forest companies that, until recently, had not agreed to defer logging in critically important rainforest valleys
Customers around the world who have expressed concern for the future of BC forests and who have embraced progressive purchasing policies will continue to monitor the progress in BC
Environmental groups will provide regular updates to the marketplace, tracking the progress of the implementation of Ecosystem Based Management and monitoring compliance with the agreements reached

Does this agreement signal an end to logging in B.C.'s rainforest?

During the planning process, clearcut logging will continue in valleys and areas outside the framework of the agreement, whilst logging in 68 identified valleys will be deferred
The Ecosystem Based plan is expected to ensure further protection of critical valleys and identify areas in which ecologically-responsible forestry can take place on a significantly smaller scale
Participants in the agreement fully acknowledge that the Annual Allowable Cut (1) on the coast will undergo a substantial reduction.

Will this result in job loss and economic impacts?

The agreement to lower the rate of cut, protect large tracts of rainforest and adopt ecologically sensitive logging will inevitably result in changes to employment
The future planning process will address community and job impacts through short and longer term mitigation measures, transition funding and economic diversification in coastal communities.
An independent information body of scientists, economists and local experts will be convened to recommend best options for land use (including eco-forestry and protection) and to develop economic diversification options
The need for diversification of the economic base will apply to both communities in the Great Bear Rainforest and logging-dependent communities further to the south. 89 percent of employees in forestry in the Great Bear region actually live outside the region. The process will identify new economic opportunities for logging dependent non-residents and opportunities for greater economic benefit for communities within the Great Bear region.

Do First Nations support this agreement?

One significant component of the agreement is a government-to-government protocol between many coastal First Nations and the Province of BC
The protocol includes a framework for Ecosystem-Based Management that will lead to ecologically responsible forest practices
Two coastal First Nations have chosen not to sign the Protocol, but continue their involvement in both the government's Land and Resource Planning Process and the Suzuki Foundation sponsored Turning Point process. Both processes have adopted Ecosystem Planning as the linchpin for the future.

Does this agreement mean 20 new Parks on the coast?

No. The intent of designating "protection areas" is not the creation of new Class A parks, but rather affording these areas protection from large scale industrial exploitation (eg: mining or industrial logging) while leaving options open for traditional use and new economic alternatives such as eco-tourism, botanicals harvesting and more.
First Nations sustainable traditional use (eg: traplines, fishing etc.) can be maintained in areas designated for protection

What "process" reached this historic agreement?

The agreement was reached through a variety of process including, but not limited to, the government-sponsored Land and Resource Management Plan for the Central Coast of BC; the First Nations and Suzuki Foundation (a Canadian ENGO) facilitated Turning Point Process and its associated working groups; bi-lateral negotiations between the individual logging companies and environmental groups such as Greenpeace, and the Joint Solutions Process participants (2).
The agreement was only reached as a result of the good will, commitment and hard work of all participants including workers, communities, independent contractors, tourism and recreational interests, small-business operators, fishermen, marine sector intersts and all those dedicated to finding long-term solutions to ensure a future for BC's endangered ecosystems and human communities.

What global customers are endorsing/supporting the change to eco-forestry?

Customers all over the world have been instrumental in urging the BC logging industry and the government to adopt sustainable forest practices.
Among those who have played a significant role and/or made a commitment to progressive purchasing policies are Home Depot (the world's largest Do-It-Yourself chain), Ikea International, the German Magazine Publishers Association, the German Pulp Producers Association, Lowes and Centex - large lumber retailers in the U.S.A., BBC Magazine in the U.K., Amdega - one of the world's largest manufacturers of conservatories, Auspine - the Austalian timber importer, the Italian supermarket chain Coop, the Belgian Timber Trade Federation, and numerous other companies - small and large - in the U.S., New Zealand, China, the U.K., and The Netherlands.
In addition, over 70 companies in Japan - including Mitsubishi and Fujiya - agreed not to purchase products from International Forest Products, so long as this company was logging intact rainforest valleys. Based on Interfor's recent commitment to support conservation of some valleys, defer logging in others valleys and support ecosystem-based planning, the marketplace will now be informed that progress is being made and that their help in monitoring the process in future will be encouraged.

NOTES

1. The annual allowable cut is the number of trees that can be legally logged each year and is set by the BC Government

2. The Joint Solutions Project participants are: Weyerhaeuser Canada, Western Forest Products, Canadian Forest Products, Norske Skog Canada, and the Sierra Club of BC, ForestEthics and Rainforest Action Network.


	April 4, 2001 Questions and answers on the Great Bear Rainforest agreement What is the agreement that has been reached in British Columbia? 20 ecologically critical valleys in the Great Bear Rainforest will be protected from industrial logging. Logging will be deferred in 68 more valleys for 12-24 months while a management plan based on ecological principles is developed. Logging companies will continue clearcutting in numerous areas of the central and north coast -largely in valleys already severely impacted by years of industrial logging. First Nation and provincial governments will work with community representatives, environmental groups, companies, workers and other stakeholders. Environmental groups hope the outcome will ensure the long-term health of this endangered global treasure. Background: The areas in question are unceded First Nations territory, yet First Nations have historically derived little benefit from economic activity on their lands Fully one-quarter of the world's remaining large tracts of intact temperate rainforest are in coastal BC and the Great Bear Rainforest comprises the largest portion of intact areas. 97 percent of the logging undertaken in this region is still by industrial clearcutting The BC Ministry of Forests acknowledges that BC forests are being logged at a rate which is at least 28 percent above the government's definition of sustainable levels Industrial clearcutting damages salmon spawning habitat, causes landslides and threatens the viability, if not the very survival, of species at risk such as grizzly bear and the rare white Kermode or "Spirit" bear. Will this mean an end to markets campaigning? The markets campaigns will be transformed to deliver a message about the solutions rather than garnering pressure on BC forest companies that, until recently, had not agreed to defer logging in critically important rainforest valleys Customers around the world who have expressed concern for the future of BC forests and who have embraced progressive purchasing policies will continue to monitor the progress in BC Environmental groups will provide regular updates to the marketplace, tracking the progress of the implementation of Ecosystem Based Management and monitoring compliance with the agreements reached Does this agreement signal an end to logging in B.C.'s rainforest? During the planning process, clearcut logging will continue in valleys and areas outside the framework of the agreement, whilst logging in 68 identified valleys will be deferred The Ecosystem Based plan is expected to ensure further protection of critical valleys and identify areas in which ecologically-responsible forestry can take place on a significantly smaller scale Participants in the agreement fully acknowledge that the Annual Allowable Cut (1) on the coast will undergo a substantial reduction. Will this result in job loss and economic impacts? The agreement to lower the rate of cut, protect large tracts of rainforest and adopt ecologically sensitive logging will inevitably result in changes to employment The future planning process will address community and job impacts through short and longer term mitigation measures, transition funding and economic diversification in coastal communities. An independent information body of scientists, economists and local experts will be convened to recommend best options for land use (including eco-forestry and protection) and to develop economic diversification options The need for diversification of the economic base will apply to both communities in the Great Bear Rainforest and logging-dependent communities further to the south. 89 percent of employees in forestry in the Great Bear region actually live outside the region. The process will identify new economic opportunities for logging dependent non-residents and opportunities for greater economic benefit for communities within the Great Bear region. Do First Nations support this agreement? One significant component of the agreement is a government-to-government protocol between many coastal First Nations and the Province of BC The protocol includes a framework for Ecosystem-Based Management that will lead to ecologically responsible forest practices Two coastal First Nations have chosen not to sign the Protocol, but continue their involvement in both the government's Land and Resource Planning Process and the Suzuki Foundation sponsored Turning Point process. Both processes have adopted Ecosystem Planning as the linchpin for the future. Does this agreement mean 20 new Parks on the coast? No. The intent of designating "protection areas" is not the creation of new Class A parks, but rather affording these areas protection from large scale industrial exploitation (eg: mining or industrial logging) while leaving options open for traditional use and new economic alternatives such as eco-tourism, botanicals harvesting and more. First Nations sustainable traditional use (eg: traplines, fishing etc.) can be maintained in areas designated for protection What "process" reached this historic agreement? The agreement was reached through a variety of process including, but not limited to, the government-sponsored Land and Resource Management Plan for the Central Coast of BC; the First Nations and Suzuki Foundation (a Canadian ENGO) facilitated Turning Point Process and its associated working groups; bi-lateral negotiations between the individual logging companies and environmental groups such as Greenpeace, and the Joint Solutions Process participants (2). The agreement was only reached as a result of the good will, commitment and hard work of all participants including workers, communities, independent contractors, tourism and recreational interests, small-business operators, fishermen, marine sector intersts and all those dedicated to finding long-term solutions to ensure a future for BC's endangered ecosystems and human communities. What global customers are endorsing/supporting the change to eco-forestry? Customers all over the world have been instrumental in urging the BC logging industry and the government to adopt sustainable forest practices. Among those who have played a significant role and/or made a commitment to progressive purchasing policies are Home Depot (the world's largest Do-It-Yourself chain), Ikea International, the German Magazine Publishers Association, the German Pulp Producers Association, Lowes and Centex - large lumber retailers in the U.S.A., BBC Magazine in the U.K., Amdega - one of the world's largest manufacturers of conservatories, Auspine - the Austalian timber importer, the Italian supermarket chain Coop, the Belgian Timber Trade Federation, and numerous other companies - small and large - in the U.S., New Zealand, China, the U.K., and The Netherlands. In addition, over 70 companies in Japan - including Mitsubishi and Fujiya - agreed not to purchase products from International Forest Products, so long as this company was logging intact rainforest valleys. Based on Interfor's recent commitment to support conservation of some valleys, defer logging in others valleys and support ecosystem-based planning, the marketplace will now be informed that progress is being made and that their help in monitoring the process in future will be encouraged. NOTES 1. The annual allowable cut is the number of trees that can be legally logged each year and is set by the BC Government 2. The Joint Solutions Project participants are: Weyerhaeuser Canada, Western Forest Products, Canadian Forest Products, Norske Skog Canada, and the Sierra Club of BC, ForestEthics and Rainforest Action Network.
		Latest News TAKE ACTION: Congratulate the BC government for protecting the Great Bear Rainforest and ask them to stick with it Help spread the good news: send an animated Grizzly bear E-card to your friends and colleagues. Government sets precedent in saving Canada's Great Bear Rainforest View a map of the Great bear Rainforest protected and deferred status areas Questions and answers on the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement