New Forestry Laws Legislated
February 7, 2008
(Vancouver BC) – The promise of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements are taking a step forward today. Minister Bell and First Nations announcement of new logging regulations in the Great Bear Rainforest is being supported by environmental organizations and forest companies.
“We congratulate the Province and First Nations for establishing legal regulations that take us one step closer to conserving some of the world’s last ancient coastal temperate rainforest,” said Sierra Club BC Forest Campaigner Jens Wieting.
ForestEthics, Greenpeace, Sierra Club BC have also reached a voluntary agreement with BC Timber Sales, Catalyst Paper, Canfor, Interfor and Western Forest Products to ensure that existing logging approvals – legally exempt from the government regulations announced today – will be brought into high levels of compliance. This means that these logging companies will apply the better conservation standards in the Great Bear Rainforest before they are legally required to do so.
“The forest companies represented here on stage must be commended for taking a proactive approach to these new laws. More work remains and bold collaborative action will be required to fully implement the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement”, said Amanda Carr, Senior Forest Campaigner with Greenpeace.
To date half of the new protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest remain to be legislated to meet the promise of 2 million ha off limits to logging.
Provincial budget allocations to keep the collaborative initiative on track will be decided over the next few weeks.
“We are confident that the momentum will continue”, said Valerie Langer Director of ForestEthics Coast campaign. “That means legislation of the Conservancies and Biodiversity Areas agreed to in 2006 and budgets allocated to enable follow through on the promise of a conservation model of global significance.”