An Environmentalists Perspective What are the problems and how are we going to solve them?

Things that really bother environmentalists: Indicators for forest and species health show clear declines due to habitat destruction and climate change (e.g. forestry and oil and gas extraction) Policy supports conventional industrial economy 90+% of the time Climate change is our most urgent challenge but forest conservation is not seriously considered as a large scale emissions reduction strategy (or even counted as an official carbon emission under Kyoto Protocol) Oversight ministries have been gutted so the fox is guarding the chicken coop BC has one of the lowest jobs/cubic metres cut ratios

OntarioQuebecBC 4.87 jobs/1000m33.35 jobs/1000m30.84 jobs/1000m3 We do not have environmental problems. We have problems managing ourselves within the environment. Social Choices: 1. Conserve much more forest and, through policy increase jobs per cubic metre cut as a requirement of tenure/cut allowances. 2. Continue unsustainable cut rate to sustain decreasing jobs and business outputs until the fall-down hits and deplete provincial natural capital including species, carbon, and water.

Industrial devastation spurred a grassroots rebellion in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Garth Lenz’s photo of the Escalante, (technically just outside of Clayoquot Sound) was the ‘poster child’ of the movement against clearcutting. Photo © Garth Lenz

Clayoquot Rainforest Coalition

Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forestry Practices Recommendations Established as Policy in 1995 A portion became Land Use Objectives in 2008

How Much is Enough? State of the World’s Forests The Ecological Case for Sustainability World Resources Institute

illustrates historic and current species richness and number of species lost over time for 17 species that experienced range contractions over more than 20% of their historic range. I I Andrea S. Laliberte and William J. Ripple.

Great Bear Rainforest

…in the absence of strong policy and legislation… Market Mechanisms for Forest Conservation

BIG BOX OFFICE SUPPLIES BIG BOX LUMBER DIY NAME BRAND PAPER BUYER

“Nobody wants to buy a 2X4 with a protestor attached to the end of it.” Bill Dumont, Chief Forester Western Forest Products 2001

Creative Conflict - a problem that needs to be solved

Certification FSC: Currently, the only mark of responsible forest management Minimizes plantations Restricts size of clearcuts Prohibits GMOs Requires much higher planning for locating reserves Account for high conservation value forests Address First Nations issues Bans certain chemicals, minimizes overall use.

Great Bear Rainforest Agreements From Conflict to Collaboration

Elements of a Solution:  Coast Information Team (Credible Science)  Ecosystem Based Management  Social Well Being: Conservation Financing & Government to Government

Great Bear Outcomes  2.1 million ha (one-third of the region protected) in 130+ Conservancies  Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) - in progress & 50% of rainforest off-limits  New governance model: Government-to-Government  $120 million Conservation Financing

Photo: Jens Weiting

What saving forests actually looks like!

Goal for the GBR: Concurrently achieve ecological integrity & high degrees of human well being Ecological Integrity is defined as managing forests at Low Risk to ecological integrity by maintaining 70% RONV (63% of total forested land base) as old forests. Human Well Being continues to be defined as a combination of initiatives that improve community economics and capacity and political engagement in decision making over their lands and lives.

How much is enough? Estimates of Ecological Risk Figure 3.3RONV, low risk targets and high risk thresholds. Low Risk Target 70% Protection Low Risk Target 70% Protection High Risk Threshold 30% Protection

Gov’t stumpage Revenue & jobs Gov’t support for GBR logging Industry influence Degree of change in Logging practices (EBM) Rate of cut Company viability Jobs in Logging First Nations support For logging Market Support Brand Risk High Value Low Volume Model Supported by Markets Conservation Financing Economic Diversification Jobs in Non- Timber Sector Alternate Licence Fees for Gov’t Electorate Support for GBR Logging