here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\nMusqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh\nterritories (Vancouver, BC) \u2014 On the 4th anniversary of the landmark Great Bear\nRainforest Agreements, environmental organizations are warning that the\nimplementation of remaining key protection measures for the region\u2019s coastal\ntemperate old-growth rainforests are significantly delayed. Greenpeace, Sierra\nClub BC, and Stand.earth are\ncalling on governments and the major logging companies to address the\ndelays, especially in light of the climate and biodiversity crises. <\/p>\n\n
In February 2016, First Nations and\nBritish Columbia signed the final iteration of 15 years of Great Bear\nRainforest Agreements, protecting 3.1 million hectares of coastal temperate\nold-growth rainforests and leaving 550,000 hectares open to industrial logging,\nwith commitments to implement stringent environmental logging standards. The\nAgreements were announced with the support of environmental organizations and\nmajor logging companies operating in the region.<\/p>\n\n
Four years later, a number of components\nof the Agreements vital for the environmental health of this world-renowned\nrainforest are still not fully implemented.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThe world celebrated when the Great\nBear Rainforest Agreements were signed in 2016. But when the spotlight turned\noff, logging companies continued to target the biggest trees they could without\nthe measures we agreed to,\u201d said Tzeporah Berman, International Programs\nDirector for Stand.earth<\/em><\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re now four years into this process, and\nsome of the oldest trees are still being logged.\u201d<\/p>\n\nDespite promises, there is still no\nframework for both the oversight and monitoring of the impacts of industrial\nlogging in the Great Bear Rainforest. In areas open to logging, the 2016\nAgreements required planning to protect ecological and cultural values. Out of\nclose to two hundred areas, zero <\/em><\/strong>plans have been completed.\nThese plans include the most endangered ecosystems (such as mature douglas fir\nand cedar), and which were required to be completed by 2018.<\/p>\n\n\u201cThe Great Bear Rainforest and the Agreements\nfor its protection are a global legacy for future generations, but only if they\nare fully implemented,\u201d said Jens Wieting, Senior Forest and Climate\nCampaigner for Sierra Club BC<\/em><\/strong>. \u201cContinued logging without finalized\nplans to protect endangered rainforests and ecosystems would create serious\necological risk. Moratoria for at-risk forests are needed immediately to\nprevent further ecological damage and implement the missing regulatory\nsafeguards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\u201cImportant things have been achieved\nthrough these world-renowned conservation agreements, such as First Nations\nhaving increasingly greater say over their territories and the seeding of a\nconservation-based economy,\u201d said Eduardo Sousa, Senior Campaigner at\nGreenpeace Canada<\/em><\/strong>. \u201cHowever significant foot-dragging by the big\ncompanies is creating uncertainty for the ecological well-being of the forest.\u201d<\/p>\n\nGreenpeace, Sierra Club BC and\nStand.earth continue\nto strongly support\nthe accomplishments and vision of the award-winning Great Bear Rainforest\nAgreements, as well as it\u2019s robust implementation, in line with Indigenous\nrights and knowledge. <\/p>\n\n
END<\/p>\n\n
For interview and more information, please contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nEduardo Sousa <\/p>\n\n
Senior Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada<\/p>\n\n
778-378-9955<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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