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Independent Science

The Coast Information Team was created by industry, the BC government and environmental groups and was co-chaired by government and First Nations.

A major factor that made the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement possible was that all parties recognized a new ecosystem-based approach to land-use was needed for the coast of British Columbia, specifically the Central and North Coasts and Haida Gwaii.

The parties agreed this ambitious goal could be achieved if there was an independent team of scientists and economists providing the best available information -- information the provincial and First Nations governments could use in their decision-making.

The group was called the Coast Information Team (CIT) and was co-funded by industry, government and environmental groups and co-chaired by the BC government and First Nations.

Developing Ecosystem-Based Management

The chosen body of experts provided crucial and comprehensive information that initiated the development of an Ecosystem-Based Management approach for the coast.

The CIT also explored economic alternatives to industrial forestry and augmented its information with local knowledge, environmental expertise and community experience.

The team gathered all of the best information into an Ecosystem-Based Management Framework and an accompanying handbook that defined EBM, provided strategic direction for others to follow and included implementation tools and procedural steps.

The handbook was the consummate “How To” for sustainable planning on the coast. To read the EBM handbook and other CIT reports click here.

The stakeholder planning tables recommended a combination of EBM and one third no logging zones. Although different than sciencetist- recommended protection levels (which advised 40-60% protection in the absence of changed forest practices), the combination of EBM on the land base outside protected areas plus one third protection from logging, was considered the best option. Environmental groups agreed to assess over time whether this combined approach could successfully achieve the environmental objectives.

Rainforest Solutions Project groups were able to support the overall consensus only because the table adopted implementation of the EBM Handbook.

photos: Adrian Dorst (banner), Al Harvey/Slidefarm (centre)

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Navigation History of the Campaign Building a Solution Independent Science Collaboration with First Nations Dialogue with Industry Investing in Communities Land use planning The Groups Threats to the ecosystem Threats to Communities Current Status Search Site Advanced Search… Document Actions Send this page Print this page	Independent Science The Coast Information Team was created by industry, the BC government and environmental groups and was co-chaired by government and First Nations.
	You are here: Home - The Campaign - Building a Solution - Independent Science Document Actions Send this page Print this page Independent Science The Coast Information Team was created by industry, the BC government and environmental groups and was co-chaired by government and First Nations. A major factor that made the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement possible was that all parties recognized a new ecosystem-based approach to land-use was needed for the coast of British Columbia, specifically the Central and North Coasts and Haida Gwaii. The parties agreed this ambitious goal could be achieved if there was an independent team of scientists and economists providing the best available information -- information the provincial and First Nations governments could use in their decision-making. The group was called the Coast Information Team (CIT) and was co-funded by industry, government and environmental groups and co-chaired by the BC government and First Nations. Developing Ecosystem-Based Management The chosen body of experts provided crucial and comprehensive information that initiated the development of an Ecosystem-Based Management approach for the coast. The CIT also explored economic alternatives to industrial forestry and augmented its information with local knowledge, environmental expertise and community experience. The team gathered all of the best information into an Ecosystem-Based Management Framework and an accompanying handbook that defined EBM, provided strategic direction for others to follow and included implementation tools and procedural steps. The handbook was the consummate “How To” for sustainable planning on the coast. To read the EBM handbook and other CIT reports click here. The stakeholder planning tables recommended a combination of EBM and one third no logging zones. Although different than sciencetist- recommended protection levels (which advised 40-60% protection in the absence of changed forest practices), the combination of EBM on the land base outside protected areas plus one third protection from logging, was considered the best option. Environmental groups agreed to assess over time whether this combined approach could successfully achieve the environmental objectives. Rainforest Solutions Project groups were able to support the overall consensus only because the table adopted implementation of the EBM Handbook. photos: Adrian Dorst (banner), Al Harvey/Slidefarm (centre)