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52-773: The Great Bear Rainforest was officially recognized by the Government of British Columbia in February 2016, when it announced an agreement to permanently protect 85% of the old-growth forested area from industrial logging . The forest was admitted to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in September of the same year. The size of the Great Bear Rainforest, also called the North and Central Coast land use planning area or

104-562: A comprehensive protection package was announced for the Great Bear Rainforest, which was defined to include the central and north coasts of BC and Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement included four key elements: rainforest protection, improved logging practices, the involvement of First Nations in decision making, and conservation financing to enable economic diversification. The final agreement banned logging in 33% of

156-643: A form called conservancies), and 3,000 km (1,200 sq mi) as BMTAs. Commercial timber harvesting and commercial hydro-electric power projects are prohibited within BMTAs. The Great Bear Rainforest extends from the Discovery Islands in the south to the BC-Alaska boundary in the north,. It includes all offshore islands within this range except Vancouver Island and the archipelago of Haida Gwaii . Its northern end reaches up Portland Canal to

208-734: Is also the King in Right of British Columbia. As a Commonwealth realm, the Canadian monarch is shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations . Within Canada, the monarch exercises power individually on behalf of the federal government and the ten provinces. The powers of the Crown are vested in the monarch and are exercised by the lieutenant governor. The advice of

260-529: Is also used for the larger region of land around the waterbody (essentially its watershed). The name Clayoquot is derived from the name of a subgroup of the Nuu-chah-nulth, who lived at Clayoqua . In the late 20th century, this group merged into the multi-group band government known as the Tla-o-qui-aht , meaning "different" or "changing" in their language. First Nations have inhabited

312-642: Is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia . It is bordered by the Esowista Peninsula to the south, and the Hesquiaht Peninsula to the North. It is a body of water with many inlets and islands. Major inlets include Sydney Inlet, Shelter Inlet, Herbert Inlet, Bedwell Inlet, Lemmens Inlet, and Tofino Inlet. Major islands include Flores Island , Vargas Island, and Meares Island . The name

364-812: Is phasing out salmon farms by 2022 in the Discovery Islands on Vancouver Island's east side. The members of three major First Nations band governments of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples inhabit the Clayoquot Sound: the Hesquiaht in the North, the Ahousaht in the middle, and the Tla-o-qui-aht in the south. The latter group is based in the village of Opitsaht on Meares Island . The village of Tofino lies opposite Opitsaht on

416-635: Is to be run under a management plan that is expected to ensure sustainable forest management . The Canadian government announced on 21 January 2007 that it would spend CA$ 30 million for protection of this rainforest. This matched a pledge made previously by the British Columbia provincial government , as well as private donations of $ 60 million, making the total funding for the new reserve $ 120 million. In autumn 2008, Greenpeace , Sierra Club BC and ForestEthics (jointly known as Rainforest Solutions Project) launched an online campaign titled, "Keep

468-522: The King-in-Council . The day-to-day operation and activities of the Government of British Columbia are performed by the provincial departments and agencies, staffed by the non-partisan public service and directed by the elected government. The premier of British Columbia is the primary minister of the Crown . The premier acts as the head of government for the province, chairs and selects

520-650: The black bear , in which one in ten cubs displays a recessive white coloured coat. The forest features 1,000-year-old western red cedar and 90-metre tall Sitka Spruce . Coastal temperate rainforests are characterized by their proximity to both ocean and mountains. Abundant rainfall results when the atmospheric flow of moist air off the ocean collides with mountain ranges. Much of the Pacific coastline of North America shares this climate pattern, including portions of Alaska , British Columbia , Washington , Oregon , and Northern California . The temperate rainforests of

572-465: The fur trade . In 1791, the complex inner waters were explored and mapped by José María Narváez and Juan Carrasco ; their commander, Francisco de Eliza , met and befriended Wickaninnish , the chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht peoples. These explorers recognized the region's wealth of natural resources. These resources attracted growing numbers of non-First Nations peoples, who limited First Nation access to land, and generated resentment among

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624-672: The intensive farming operation, occurred in 2019. The densely packed farms have the disadvantage of providing conditions that allow for the rapid spread of disease. A highly contagious virus variant found in Norwegian salmon farms has been found in Clayoquot Sound farmed salmon. Environmental advocacy organizations have stated such events are evidence of the environmental damage associated with this type of fish farming. The British Columbia provincial government has closed other salmon farming sites on Vancouver Island. For instance, it

676-526: The royal prerogative and granting royal assent . The executive power is vested in the Crown and exercised in-Council , meaning on the advice of the Executive Council; conventionally, this is the Cabinet, which is chaired by the premier and comprises ministers of the Crown . The term Government of British Columbia , or more formally His Majesty's Government , refers to the activities of

728-489: The Central and North Coast LRMP area, is roughly 32,000 km (12,000 sq mi). As part of the 2006 North and Central Coast Land Use Decision three new land use zones were created: Protected Areas; Biodiversity, Mining, and Tourism Areas (BMTAs); and Ecosystem-based Management Operating Areas (EBMs). As of 2009, approximately 16,000 km (6,200 sq mi) of the region has been designated as protected areas (in

780-500: The Central and North Coast of mainland BC were largely unknown to conservationists as late as the 1980s. Then Peter McAllister, an ex-chair of the Sierra Club of Western Canada, veteran forest campaigner and early advocate for boycotts against the timber industry chartered a three-masted ship, skippered by an arctic adventurer, Sven Johansson. and sailed north from Victoria in summer 1990 with a crew of environmentalists. Their mission

832-477: The Clayoquot Sound region, including both land and water, is 350,000 hectares (860,000 acres). More than 200,000 hectares (490,000 acres) have been included as the subject of a multi-year study using Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) to identify areas prone to geologic and geomorphic hazards, in particular, landslides, soil erosion, and sedimentation. The study is also to identify and characterize terrain conditions associated with these hazards. The region contains

884-682: The Forests Minister of British Columbia, Andrew Petter , and the Environment Minister, Elizabeth Cull , officially accepted the 127 panel recommendations, on behalf of the NDP government. Members of Greenpeace were reported to play a significant role in these protests and instigated a boycott of BC forest products to apply pressure on the industry. After the government accepted the scientific panel's recommendations, specifically deferring logging until an inventory of pristine areas

936-553: The Great Bear Rainforest and implemented ecosystem-based forestry management for the entire Great Bear Rainforest by 2009. The 2006 agreement between the BC government and a coalition of conservationists , loggers , hunters , and First Nations established a series of conservancies stretching 400 kilometres (250 mi) along the coast. The proposed protected areas will contain 18,000 square kilometres (6,900 sq mi), and another 46,900 square kilometres (18,100 sq mi) that

988-536: The Promise," to put public pressure on Gordon Campbell , then Premier of British Columbia , to honour the Great Bear Rainforest agreement in its entirety. The groups were concerned certain aspects of the agreement, including implementation of ecosystem-based management , would not materialize in time for the government's own final implementation deadline of March 31, 2009. Premier Christy Clark announced on February 1, 2016, that an agreement had been reached between

1040-611: The area for thousands of years. The oldest dated location within Nuu-cha-nulth territory is 4,200 years (at Yuquot, Nootka Island ). Because post-glacial sea-levels are known to have risen, overtaking earlier locations, most scholars will date the beginnings of human habitation beyond 9,000 years BP before present . In the late 18th century, Clayoquot Sound and the Native American peoples were explored by ship by various Europeans and Americans who were involved mainly in

1092-406: The area. The Great Bear Rainforest (Forest Management) Act was introduced by cabinet on March 1, 2016. In September, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge , and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge , visited and unveiled a plaque in the forest acknowledging its admission into The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy . On 13 October 2016, a tugboat hauling an empty tanker barge ran aground on a reef just off

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1144-405: The channel. By 26 October, the fuel tanks of the tug were emptied and about 101,131 litres of oily water was recovered. The fuel spill was the last major incident to occur in the region since BC Ferries ' Queen of the North ran aground and sank off the coast of Gill Island on 21 March 2006. Public outcry over the incident coupled with increased interest in preserving the ecological integrity of

1196-561: The coast of Athlone Island in Seaforth Channel ( 52°08′29″N 128°11′53″W  /  52.141334°N 128.198055°W  / 52.141334; -128.198055  ( Fuel spill near Athlone Island, BC ) ). The reef was located in the traditional territorial waters of the Heiltsuk First Nation and within the larger Great Bear Rainforest. The tug leaked over 100,000 litres of diesel fuel and sank into

1248-524: The collective set of all three institutions, or more specifically to the executive— ministers of the Crown (the Executive Council) of the day, and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency, i.e. the civil services, whom the ministers direct—which corporately brands itself as the Government of British Columbia , or more formally, His Majesty's Government (French: Gouvernement de Sa Majesté ). The current construct

1300-456: The communities of Bella Bella , Bella Coola , and Hagensborg . The southern end of the region includes Knight Inlet and Bute Inlet . The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest left in the world. The area is home to species such as cougars , wolves , salmon , grizzly bears , and the Kermode ("spirit") bear , a unique subspecies of

1352-565: The early 21st century, the communities surrounding Clayoquot Sound (Tofino, Ucluelet, and Ahousaht) have been developing new sources of income. They are emphasizing ecotourism and selective logging, based on co-management strategies. The land around Clayoquot Sound includes vast coastal temperate rain forest , rivers, lakes, marine areas and beaches. It includes part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and some of Strathcona Provincial Park . The total size of

1404-546: The election of enough members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of a single political party in an election to provide a majority of seats, forming a governing party or coalition . The sovereign is King  Charles III , Canada's head of state , who is represented provincially in British Columbia by the lieutenant governor , Janet Austin since 2018. King  Charles III , as sovereign,

1456-447: The government of British Columbia, First Nations , environmentalists, and the forestry industry to protect 85% of the 6.4 million hectare Great Bear Rainforest from industrial logging. The remaining 15% would still be subject to logging under stringent conditions. The agreement also recognizes aboriginal rights to shared decision-making and provides a greater economic share of timber rights and $ 15-million in funding to 26 First Nations in

1508-399: The largest area of intact (unlogged) temperate rainforest left on Vancouver Island. Clayoquot Sound is home to wolves , black bears , cougars , grey whales , orcas , porpoises , seals , sea lions , river otters , bald eagles , osprey , marbled murrelets , Pacific loons , Roosevelt elk , martens , and raccoons . In 2000, Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve was designated as

1560-569: The late 1980s, the situation escalated when the government approved MacMillan Bloedel Corporation's permit to log Meares Island. The First Nations peoples expressed their opposition to the MacMillan Bloedel Corporation logging in the Clayoquot Sound by several peaceful protests and blockades of logging roads from 1980 to 1994. In the summer of 1993, over 800 protestors were arrested, and many were tried for interfering with approved industry. Protestors included members of

1612-538: The lieutenant governor after either a motion of no confidence or defeat in a general election . David Eby has been premier since November 18, 2022, after winning the NDP leadership election . He succeeded John Horgan , who led the New Democratic Party to a majority government in the 2020 British Columbia general election . Clayoquot Sound Clayoquot Sound / ˈ k l ɑː k w ɒ t /

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1664-404: The local Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Ahousaht First Nation bands, as well as NDP MP Svend Robinson , and environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of Clayoquot Sound . International mass media covered the protests and blockades, helping to create national support for environmental movements in British Columbia and foster strong advocacy for anti-logging campaigns. Media reported

1716-474: The locals. Government support of private company resource extraction allowed for the growth of such industry over time. Logging companies were active in harvesting timber in the Clayoquot Sound area as late as the 1980s and 1990s. In the late 20th century, First Nations became more active in trying to defend their rights and resources. They developed Native lobbying organizations and insisted on negotiations regarding governmental policies about such resources. In

1768-581: The magazine of the Sierra Club, said “Magazine wants no part of B.C. pulp”, Excerpts from a documentary depicting clearcutting were picked up by CNN and PBS. (“Legacy: Killing a Temperate Rainforest”). Jup Weber , MP of Luxembourg, a leader of the Greens, and a critic of the province’s logging practices, invited Peter McAllister to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to present evidence of

1820-535: The membership of the Cabinet , and advises the Crown on the exercise of executive power and much of the royal prerogative . As premiers hold office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the elected Legislative Assembly , they typically sit as a MLA and lead the largest party or a coalition in the Assembly. Once sworn in, the premier holds office until either they resign or they are removed by

1872-498: The over-cutting of the coastal temperate rainforest, countering decades of denials by the provincial government and the timber industry. Evolution of the name “Great Bear Rainforest”. First it was publicized as the Hidden Coast” and the “Raincoast.” In 1993 the flagship organization representing their campaign was registered as the “Raincoast Conservation Society.” Expeditions became known as “Raincoast Expeditions.” In 1993 after

1924-432: The perceived injustice of numerous individuals being arrested for joining peaceful protests and blockades. In some cases, law enforcement responded aggressively, which eventually helped strengthen public support for non-violent protests. After the 1990 protests, the provincial government made its first significant change in policy. It commissioned a scientific panel to examine issues related to Clayoquot Sound. In July 1995,

1976-468: The premier and Executive Council is typically binding; the Constitution Act, 1867 requires executive power to be exercised only "by and with the advice of the Executive Council". The lieutenant governor is appointed by the governor general , on the advice of the prime minister of Canada . Thus, it is typically the lieutenant governor whom the premier and ministers advise, exercising much of

2028-618: The provincial government and Nuu-chah-nulth first nations signing the Interim Measures Act (IMA) on March 19, 1994. (This followed protests in 1993 that gained international coverage on this issue, increasing the pressure.) Since the IMA was signed, the First Nations and government have negotiated to co-manage local land and resources, including economic development strategies. With the reduction in logging in this area, in

2080-629: The rainforest helped to spur the passage of the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act on 21 June 2019, which prohibits any oil tanker from docking at any port along the North Coast of British Columbia . Government of British Columbia The Government of British Columbia ( French : Gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique ) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of British Columbia . The term Government of British Columbia can refer to either

2132-488: The southern promontory of the entrance to the sound. In 1985, for the first time in British Columbia history, the courts froze resource development on crown land because of a related Aboriginal title claim. Chiefs of the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht first nations obtained an injunction halting logging on Meares Island in Clayoquot Sound pending treaty negotiations with the provincial government. These negotiations resulted in

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2184-414: The stakeholders agreed to recommend the BC government that about 3,500,000 acres (14,000 km), about 33% of the Great Bear Rainforest, be put under some form of protection, and that new forms of ecosystem-based forestry be required throughout the rainforest. This fell short of the scientific recommendations, which had concluded that 44%–70% should be protected. The recommendation given to the BC government

2236-475: The third expedition in 1993, Peter’s family including Ian McAllister , Karen McAllister , and Bernadette Mertens McAllister became valuable team members. Mike Humphries, a WWII fighter pilot, flew aerial reconnaissance, enhancing the documentation of remote logging operations while offering a bird's eye view.(“Raincoast: North Among the Fjords”). In 1994 evidence of a grizzly bear slaughter precipitated an exposé of

2288-675: The third expedition, Peter McAllister first used the “Great Bear” name in honour of the coastal grizzlies that ate fish in the unlogged salmon rivers. “Great Bear Wilderness” made its appearance in a 1994 Raincoast Conservation Society publication. In 1996 Ian McAllister added “Rainforest” to the “Great Bear” name when the Raincoast Conservation Society met with Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco to develop their international market campaign strategy. Subsequently Raincoast’s aerial reconnaissance photography

2340-459: The threatened bear population. Stories of these first years of the campaign were presented in slide shows in western North America and Europe while those on board spread the word in newspapers, articles, journals and magazines. Articles and film documentaries brought international condemnation and the cancellation of contracts with pulp and paper producers.("Battle for the Trees"). In 1994 Sierra ,

2392-544: The vicinity of Stewart . To the south it includes Prince Rupert , most of Douglas Channel , half of Hawkesbury Island , and part of Gardner Canal . Kitimat is outside the region, to the east. Farther south, the region includes all of the coast west and south of the Fiordland Conservancy , Kitlope Heritage Conservancy Protected Area , Tweedsmuir North and Tweedsmuir South Provincial Parks —which includes Dean Channel , Burke Channel , Rivers Inlet , and

2444-623: Was a compromise agreed to by the stakeholders after years of difficult negotiations. The stakeholders included provincial and local governments; many BC First Nations such as the Heiltsuk and Homalco ; the ENGOs Greenpeace , ForestEthics , Rainforest Action Network , Pacific Wild , and Sierra Club BC and forestry corporations such as Canadian Forest Products , Catalyst Paper Corporation , International Forest Products , Western Forest Products ; and many others. On 7 February 2006

2496-689: Was completed, Greenpeace lifted the boycott. After the inventory, the government reduced the Annual Allowable Cut, and clear-cuts in the area were limited to a maximum of four hectares. In addition, once biological and cultural inventories were completed, the government required Eco-Based Planning. The sound's ecological features have made it a major site for the farming of salmon , a fish traditional to this area. Floating feedlots have been installed, consisting of giant fenced pens. There are roughly twenty such farms in operation. A massive die-off of fish, possibly linked to an algal bloom caused by

2548-580: Was established when the province joined Confederation in 1871. British Columbia is a secondary jurisdiction of Canada, a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition ; a premier — David Eby of the New Democratic Party since 2022—is the head of government and is invited by the Crown to form a government after securing the confidence of the Legislative Assembly , typically determined through

2600-428: Was to begin exploring, researching and bringing recognition to the ecological and cultural values of a significant expanse of the earth’s temperate rainforest . They conducted the campaign to protect the Great Bear Rainforest until 1996 when many of the environmental organizations involved in the struggle to save Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island began to join the campaign. The first order of business on every voyage

2652-545: Was to offer support to the coastal First Nations in their struggle to take back their traditional territory from the timber industry. The inaugural expedition led immediately to the protection of the threatened Koeye River watershed, one of the most ecologically and culturally significant river systems on the Central Coast. The expedition voyages took on board an international array of journalists, filmmakers, photographers, scientists and conservationists. Commencing with

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2704-530: Was used to convince major home building suppliers to threaten logging companies harvesting in Heiltsuk territory with boycotts. This forced the provincial government and the timber industry to come to the table for the beginning of a long process of negotiations involving the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest.“Watershed: Canada’s Threatened Rainforest” (“Great Bear Rainforest- Ethan Sing / Peter Mcallister”). In May 2004, after years of conflict and negotiation,

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