FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      APRIL 1, 2008
LOCATION:     BELLA BELLA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada
CONTACT:   IAN McALLISTER, PACIFIC WILD
Phone: 250-957-2480  / Cell: 250-882-7246
Email: ian@pacificwild.org  Website: www.pacificwild.org

BC GOVERNMENT FAILING TO PROTECT CANADIAN GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST

BELLA BELLA, B.C. – Two years after B.C. Premier Campbell announced a “historical land use agreement” that was intended to protect Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest, it remains unlegislated.

Although the land use agreement was supposed to establish new conservancy boundaries, new large scale industrial proposals are planned within these same areas—leaving the world renowned Great Bear Rainforest under threat once again.  

“People across BC, Canada and around the world supported the effort to protect this magnificent forest and applauded Premier Campbell for his visionary achievement,” states Ian McAllister of the BC Environmental group Pacific Wild, “and now we watch in dismay as taxpayer funded environmental assessments take place on projects that should simply be shelved.”  

Wind farms on Banks Island Conservancy.  The Provincial Government and the Canadian Wildlife Service are conducting an environmental assessment for a massive wind farm, which will include a 150km high power transmission line that extends through four other Great Bear conservancies.  Where is the announced protection?

Flooding of the Nascall Conservancy.  This proposal would destroy one of the most spectacular lake systems on the British Columbia coast.  In 2001, the NDP Government of the day designated the entire Nascall drainage as a conservancy.  In February, 2006, the BC Liberal government under Premier Campbell confirmed the designation.    Where is the announced protection?

The Spring Trophy Hunt opens across BC on April 1st.  It is a sad April Fool’s joke that hunters will be permitted for sport to kill wolves, grizzly bears and black bears.  The hunt includes bears with the recessive gene found in the endangered BC Spirit Bear, which is found in the remote river valleys of the Great Bear Rainforest.  Where is the announced protection?

Premier Campbell appears to think he can have it both ways.  Announce a “historical land use agreement” to make the public happy, while quietly encouraging and permitting industrial development in the very Great Bear Rainforest conservancies that he vowed to protect only two years ago.  Flooded rivers, dead bears and massive wind farms are not what the people of the world were promised.

“It is time again for us all to do what we did before. Demand that Premier Campbell keep his promise to protect the Great Bear Rainforest and the wildlife within it,” urges Ian McAllister.

For more information: Contact Ian McAllister, Pacific Wild  
Phone: 250 957 2480  Cell: 250 882 7246
Email: info@pacificwild.org Website:  www.pacificwild.org.          

NOTE: Photos and Film Clips Available on request