The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the last of its kind in the world. That’s why so many British Columbians, and others around the globe, have stood up with the region’s First Nations to safeguard it.
Together, our voices helped convince decision-makers to commit to saving the Great Bear Rainforest in 2006. But today, on the sixth anniversary of that promise, half of this rare, old-growth forest is still being logged. No matter which way you cut it, protecting 50 per cent of a forest won’t save the whole.
That’s the message we’re asking British Columbians to send to the provincial government. We need decision makers to Take It Taller for the Great Bear Rainforest. Today, ForestEthics, Greenpeace and Sierra Club B.C. sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark, calling on her to protect something of value to all British Columbians by making sure the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements are finally implemented.
The science is clear — as long as only half of the Great Bear Rainforest is protected, the entire forest is still at risk. At least 70 per cent of the natural level of old-growth forest needs to be off-limits to logging if we want to protect one of the planet’s last intact temperate coastal rainforests from disappearing forever.
At a time when the Great Bear Rainforest is under increasing threat from pipelines, tankers and grizzly bear trophy hunting, the provincial government has a clear opportunity to do something right now to make good on its promise to save this global gem from unsustainable logging.
Living up to the commitments of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements means committing to protect more of the old-growth rainforest and the species that live in it — including the majestic white spirit bear. It also means speeding up efforts to improve the well-being of First Nations communities in the region.
It’s time for British Columbians to take action again and call on the provincial government to finish the job of saving the Great Bear Rainforest.
We’re so close to finishing the job. All we have to do now is Take It Taller.
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