Coast Mountain News Thursday, February 11, 2016
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Vol. 32 | No. 3 Thursday, February 11, 2016
Dr. Evan Adams visits Bella Coola
Serving the Bella Coola Valley and the Chilcotin
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First Nations, environmental groups and coastal forest industry representatives joined the Province to celebrate achieving ecosystem-based management in the Great Bear Rainforest (BC Government photo)
Historic agreement reached for 6.4 million hectares of the Great Bear Rainforest BY CAITLIN THOMPSON It has been 20 years in the making and a deal has finally been reached to protect 6.4 million hectares of the largest coastal temperate rainforest on the planet, known worldwide as the Great Bear Rainforest. Representatives from the province, First Nations, environmentalists, and forest companies announced the deal in Bella Bella last Monday. It will be enshrined in legislation this spring, and promises to completely protect 85
percent of the area’s oldgrowth forests from industrial logging. The remaining 15 per cent will be logged, but only under the strictest commercial logging standards in Canada. The level of cooperation in the creation of the deal was unprecedented. First Nations, environmentalists, forestry companies and the B.C. government negotiated for nearly two decades to achieve what is being called a “globally significant landmark.” “The Great Bear Rainforest is a global treasure, and all British
Columbians have a stake in protecting it,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Under this landmark agreement, more old and second-growth forest will be protected, while still ensuring opportunities for economic development and jobs for local First Nations.” Perhaps the most powerful accomplishment of the agreement was the recognition of aboriginal rights to shared decision making and comanagement of the land. The 26 government-togovernment agreements that B.C. signed with the
resident First Nations spell out how the agreement will be managed. It is the first time negotiations have been completed through a mutually agreed upon framework. The Great Bear Rainforest overlaps with the territories of more than 20 separate First Nations, all of whom were involved in negotiations. In Bella Coola, the boundaries of the Great Bear Rainforest encompass the entire Valley and the outer coast. The total area is twice the size of Belgium and stretches from the north
of Vancouver Island to the Alaska Panhandle. “There was a day when First Nations did not have a say in the activities that happened in their traditional homelands. Today we signed as First Nations governments bringing the values from our communities and the knowledge from our elders,” said Kitasoo/Xaixais Chief Councillor Douglas Neasloss. “Today is proof that First Nations, the province, environmentalists and stake holders can work together for a sustainable future. In this agreement
some key water sheds are now protected, trophy hunting is on the decline, greater economic certainty for local communities, and a better working relationship with the province.” “It’s a testament to the hard work they have done, and the perseverance they have put into these agreements,” said Richard Brooks, the forest campaign coordinator for Greenpeace Canada. “It’s quite unique... the provincial governments have negotiated SEE 'HUNT' ON PAGE 3
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