GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
A forest solution in the making
The Great Bear Rainforest is a lush coastal wilderness where the salmon teem and spirit bears roam free. Until recently, this picture-perfect setting was under threat from industrial logging. After waves of local and international protests, discussions were held by the Government of British Columbia (BC), representatives of indigenous First Nations governments, environmental organisations and the forestry industry leading to landmark agreements in 2006 and 2009. These conservation agreements provided a foundation for the final set of conservation measures announced in 2016 that result in 85% of the forested landbase of the Great Bear Rainforest off limits to industrial logging, with additional social-cultural measures to enhance First Nations community well-being.