Barcroft via Getty Images
The spirit bear, a rare subspecies of black bear that is not albino, is found almost exclusively in the rainforest.
>
Environmentalists are hailing the Canadian government’s landmark deal to protect 85 percent of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia from logging and development — an area more than twice the size of Belgium.
The agreement, struck in partnership with First Nations and logging companies, permanently protects a vast swath of the largest coastal temperate rainforest on Earth. Commercial logging will be permitted in 15 percent of the region, but under a sustainable plan that won’t remove more wood from the area than the ecosystem can withstand.
“This is huge, the fact that this isn’t just a conservation agreement, that we’ve integrated the concept of an economy that can sustain itself within an ecosystem,”said Valerie Langer , a director at ForestEthics, one of the leading environmental groups behind the deal. “Our goal was to [figure out] how we were going to shift our economy so we don’t destroy what we live in.”
The 26 indigenous groups that live within the area were prime negotiators surrounding the terms of the agreement for the Great Bear Rainforest, which is home to many of Canada’s unique species, including the spirit bear , a rare sub-species of black bear with white fur.
Richard Brooks , forest campaign coordinator for Greenpeace Canada, welcomed the protections that he said took two decades to sort out. For years, Greenpeace staged blockades, protests and hung banners around the forest in an effort to raise public awareness about the plight of the ecosystem.
“In other places in the world, people are fighting to protect 1 or 2 percent [of the environment,” he said. “To be able to accomplish something on this scale ... set aside forever, that means the vast majority of the old growth forest will continue will continue to live on.”
Jens Wieting , a forest and climate campaigner with the Sierra Club of British Columbia, said the new protections focus on a model “based on science, not bookkeeping” and will hopefully serve as a model for other environmental fights going on around the globe.
“We have very little time to increase protections ... before the impacts of climate change will make it harder for species to adapt,” Wieting said. “It should be commonsense, but unfortunately it’s not what most of humanity is doing.”
But despite the long process towards protections for Great Bear, Brooks said this “really is a good news story,” without a “but” attached to the end.
“We have a model now and we have hope,” he said. “We need more stories like this — in the end the forest wins.”
One of the beautiful places on earth. If you ever have the chance to visit, it's well worth it.
A sighting of a ''Spirit Bear'' is an added wonder.
Credit to Spikegary for finding the story.
“We need more stories like this — in the end the forest wins.”
More than that, the future of humanity wins. A good story from Canada, among more than one that are disappointing.
It is a win for the environment and the people Buzz.
We need to see more of this type of action, not less of it.
They are doing select moderate logging in the Adirondacks of only certain types and size of trees. Seems to be well managed (surprising that a New York State government agency) and has seen very few major forest fires. The wolf population is also returning to the mountains. Not sure if that's good or not.
The wolf keeps the balance in nature, Spike.
We kill off all the predators and nature is out of balance.
Actually, a win-win situation all around that everyone/thing benefits from. Logging companies collaborating with people of the land, in harmony. About time!
Pretty shocking development with the logging companies working with the First Nations...
Let's hope that it continues, and spreads.
I am so glad that Canada has taken these measures. Taking care of our environment will save a lot of species of animals, and in return, will take care of us.
Most people forget that we are the top of the food chain... if the bottom is pulled out, we tumble.
We are only at the top of the food chain if we have guns, without them we are pretty close to the bottom. Of course we don't taste good to most animals. We are an acquired taste.
LOL.. there a few large cats and bears who find us tasty.
They only find white meat tasty.
LMAO
LMAO as well.
...we’ve integrated the concept of an economy that can sustain itself within an ecosystem,”said Valerie Langer, a director at ForestEthics, one of the leading environmental groups behind the deal. “Our goal was to [figure out] how we were going to shift our economy so we don’t destroy what we live in.”
THIS is what we will all have to eventually do if we are going to survive as a species. Isn't it interesting that out of all the creatures on the planet, humans are the only one who's waste literally destroys the planet. We have to find a better way.
And put them in a tree museum
And they charged all the people
A dollar and a half to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And they put up a parking lot