UK Linked to Rainforest Destruction

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

UK Linked to Rainforest Destruction

UK, March 2, 1998 - On Tuesday 3rd March Greenpeace is launching
a campaign to save the Great Bear Rainforest in Canada which is
being destroyed to fulfil UK market demand for timber, paper and
industrial products.

Only 20% of the Earth's ancient forests remain as large tracts
of pristine wilderness areas. Just 3% of them are temperate
forests. One of the last areas of temperate rainforests is to be
found on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Two hundred
and eighty four of this region's rainforest valleys have already
been destroyed. Only sixty-nine remain, mostly in an area known
as the Great Bear Rainforest. 

Greenpeace Campaign Director, John Sauven, said:  "Canadian
companies are clearcut logging these ancient temperate
rainforests at an alarming pace. At the current rate, the Great
Bear Rainforest will be destroyed in the next five to ten years.
Time is running out. We must put an end to clearcut logging now
if we are to save what remains of this ecologically valuable
ancient forest."

The Great Bear Rainforest is home not just to rare bears,
including the white Spirit bear, but supports an immense variety
of life along its coastline such as salmon, eagles and whales.

As the UK is the largest European market for Canada's rainforest
timber, it plays a crucial role in the destruction of the Great
Bear Rainforest. John Sauven added: "We in the UK have to accept
that we are very much involved in this environmental
destruction. While we buy products that are made out of
rainforest timber, we continue to be responsible for the
devastating impact it is having on one of the last ancient
forest ecosystems." 

Greenpeace is working with major UK companies to ensure that
they are aware of the international importance of the Great Bear
Rainforest and the environmental cost of their contracts. Some
companies, like B&Q and Sainsbury's Homebase, have already
sourced alternatives and have decided to stop using timber from
Canada's rainforests.

Dr Alan Knight of B & Q said: "We announced last year that we
would cease to buy hemlock from British Columbia for three
reasons: we were uncomfortable with clearcutting , there had
been no move towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
certification and hemlock products weren't a major part of our
range. After a period of discussion with suppliers who said
little to reassure us that our concerns were being addressed,
and having listened to Greenpeace's point of view, we took the
decision to look for alternative sources which will be certified
by the FSC by our 1999 target."


Notes to Editors:

The Great Bear Rainforest campaign launch is taking place on
Tuesday 3rd March, 7.00pm, at SOAS, Brunei Gallery, Thornhaugh
Street, London WC1. Please call 0171 865 8116 to order your
complementary tickets for the Tuesday evening.

Guests Professor David Bellamy, O.B.E. and Ian McAllister,
author of the newly published book, 'The Great Bear Rainforest:
Canada's Forgotten Coast' are helping to launch the campaign. 

Ian McAllister, Rainforest Conservation Foundation, and Tamara
Stark, Greenpeace Canada's Forests Campaigner, will be available
for interview on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 March. Please let us
know in advance if you wish to book an interview.

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org