On the eve of the festive Tides Renewal Centre’s Open House, I was thrilled to learn that one of the most critical milestones towards protecting the Great Bear Rainforest had been achieved. On March 31st, the Province of British Columbia announced formal action to realize its commitment to implement Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) in the Great Bear Rainforest.

The highlight of the announcement was a new system of "lighter-touch" logging regulations that will maintain 50% of the natural level of old growth forest in the region. This translates to an additional 700,000 hectares (1.7 million acres) of forest set aside from logging. Environmental groups, along with the Province, industry and First Nations have agreed on a five-year plan that would see the long-term goals of low ecological risk and high quality of life in communities achieved by 2014.

This project is a prime example of the innovative initiatives that Renewal engages in to create long term societal change. We’ve been proud to be a part of a group of any stakeholders working together to ensure the conservation of this great mass of land. We applaud ForestEthics, Greenpeace and Sierra Club BC, who continue to work with the Province, First Nations and industry leaders to realize the full vision of Ecosystem-Based Management. These groups, along with other Tides Canada projects, will continue their work to increase biodiversity protection in the region, including the elimination of trophy hunting for bears and other activities inconsistent with conservation objectives.

I am inspired by the collaborative efforts of all those involved. And, it seems that others are equally impressed (click here) to read a letter from the Canadian Boreal Initiative and International Boreal Conservation Campaign who have been working on similar goals for years.

Letter of congratulations from CBI and IBCC

Please accept our hearty congratulations for the successful implementation of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement.

We appreciate the tireless work that you and your colleagues have undertaken over the years to promote and advocate for the ecological and economic worth of Great Bear. We are especially impressed with the collaborative and thoughtful approach to land protection that will place British Columbia at the forefront of global environmental stewardship initiatives.

The Canadian Boreal Initiative and International Boreal Conservation Campaign have been working with similar goals for some years now. We are impressed by the personal commitment you and your supporters have made to protect Great Bear; we hope that there will be opportunities to work together to ensure other success stories to come.

All of Canada looks at British Columbia as a land of wild and beautiful spaces. Thank you for helping to ensure the future truth of this impression.

Warm wishes,
Larry Innes, Executive Director
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Steve Kallick, Director
International Boreal Conservation Campaign