Ongoing protests to stop destructive logging drew the world’s attention to British Columbia. But protests were only effective to a point. Environmental groups also targeted customers of BC’s forest products and challenged these customers to include environmental considerations in their purchasing decisions.

Over 80 companies around the world, including Ikea, Home Depot, Staples and IBM, committed to stop selling forest products made from BC’s threatened ancient forests.

This market pressure drove the major coastal BC logging companies to sit down and negotiate a truce. There would be no more protests in the woods and marketplace as long as companies adopted a moratorium on logging in large intact valleys and key ecological areas.

First Step Toward Solution

A “time-out” opened up dialogue between the two sides and a cooperative initiative seeking new solutions called the Joint Solutions Project evolved.

There wasn’t yet a formal agreement to protect the coastal rainforest, but the collaboration between both sides led to an interim agreement containing among other things, a commitment to Ecosystem-Based Management .

From here, numerous stakeholders came together and developed land use recommendations for the coast, which led to proposals that were given to governments.

At this crucial stage, without legislated protection and before the land use plans have been approved, the future of the Great Bear Rainforest is still uncertain.

photos: Adrian Dorst (banner), Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter (centre)