Deal protects Canada rainforest
Canada's province of British Columbia has
announced plans to protect a huge swathe of Pacific Coast rainforest, known as
the Amazon of the North.
Canada’s province of British Columbia has announced plans to protect a huge swathe of Pacific Coast rainforest, known as the Amazon of the North.
The forest is home to a rare white bear species and is the ancestral land of several indigenous Canadian tribes. The deal will save a vast area of forest for wildlife, while allowing sustainable logging in other parts.
Provincial Premier Gordon Campbell, announcing the agreement alongside native Indian drummers, said: “The result is a strong marriage that balances the needs of the environment with the need for sustainable jobs and a strong economic future for coastal communities.”
The BBC’s Ian Gunn in Vancouver says this is all a far cry from just a few years ago, when environmental groups and the logging industry clashed in the same forests with blockades and frequent arrests.
Now both sides say they have an agreement that should settle the matter for good.
Bravo!
Posted: Wed - February 8, 2006 at 06:45 AM