Old growth forests are being managed to ensure low risk to biodiversity.*

Develop science based spatial scenarios and identify one preferred option to meet appropriate conservation of old-growth forest as part of implementing Ecosystem Based Management

February 2008 status:
CFCI and RSP are working jointly with First Nations and the province in the Ecosystem Based Management Working Group to analyze different scenarios following a joint work plan. Ultimately all stakeholders will need to agree on a map identifying high, medium and low risk management zones across the region, in order to maintain ecological integrity of all ecosystems and allow for human wellbeing over the medium and long term.

Implementation of new logging practices is being independently monitored.*

The logging industry must agree to independent and credible assessment of milestones to achieve full implementation of Ecosystem Based Management by March 2009.

All parties that are signatories to the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement should recognize the value of having work plans validated and progress monitored so that changes and adaptations can be made to successfully create lasting change in the region.

February 2008 status:
CFCI and RSP have agreed to an independent assessment of their work to implement EBM milestones. The first assessment will be finalized in spring of 2008.

Identify ecologically  critical areas to maintain options during transition to full EBM.*

Identify where CFCI businesses will and will not operate outside of protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest while Ecosystem Based Management is being implemented. The intent is to maintain important ecological and socioeconomic values during transition to full Ecosystem Based Management.

February 2008 status:
CFCI and RSP have identified where CFCI businesses will and will not operate outside of protected areas while Ecosystem Based Management is being implemented in the Great Bear Rainforest. The intent is to maintain important ecological and socioeconomic values during transition to full Ecosystem Based Management until March 31 2009.

The areas where CFCI businesses will not conduct timber harvesting operations before March 31 2009 capture key ecological values; in particular they include forest ecosystems that are near or above high risk thresholds as defined by the EBM Handbook. These areas cover approximately 1,000,000 hectares of CFCI gross tenure, and represent approximately 40% of the CFCI forested tenure in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Work underway to allow Forest Stewardship Council Certification to support EBM.*

Explore the feasibility of FSC certification, consistent with Ecosystem Based Management, in the Great Bear Rainforest.

February 2008 status:
CFCI and RSP held a scoping workshop with a certifier. Outcomes included a better understanding of the certification process, the context of EBM in the Great Bear Rainforest for FSC, and clear direction on how to proceed towards certification.  To date no forestry in the Great Bear Rainforest is FSC certified.

* Milestones marked with an asterisk are agreed to by major logging companies and environmental organizations that work together in the Joint Solutions Project (JSP). The JSP was established by the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative (CFCI), formed by Western Forest Products, Interfor, BC Timber Sales, Canfor and Catalyst Paper, and the Rainforest Solutions Project (RSP). Progress on these milestones will be assessed by an independent assessor.

Next milestone: March 2008