Successful sample of sustainable logging in Canada

While in the Philippines, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to investigate alleged death threats against a member of the government's task force (TF) on anti-illegal logging in the Caraga Region some months ago in Canada has been launched a documentary called Harmony dealing with the successful story of the Great Bear Rainforest agreements in British Columbia. In an area the size of Ireland, despite the beginning skeptical approaches it seems that an unprecedented collaboration between environmentalists, logging and mining industry, native groups and governments is bringing positive results.


Major milestones achieved in the final agreement, after weeks of intense negotiations in 2007 were:

- 2.1 million hectares, or 5 million acres, an area half the size of Switzerland, legally protected from logging;
- $120 million available to First Nation communities to help kick-start a new conservation economy as an alternative to logging throughout the rainforest, and;
- A new system of ‘lighter touch’ logging, based on Ecosystem-based Management (EBM), has been legislated.

Details of the area interested by the project

This system will maintain 50 per cent 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.

 A lot still need to be done in terms of creating a sustainable timber harvesting system and it will be important that all the parts will do again their best to contribute to the establishment of an effective ecosystem-based management for the area.  Despite the diffuculties to mutuate a project from one side of the world to another, it could be important to consider the re-elaboration of the main principles contributing to the succesful implementation of the project in  Canada in the countries affected by illegal logging practices.

further information
Illegal logging declining worldwide, but still 'major problem'