A grizzly bear swimming in the waters of Knight Inlet, British Columbia

London/Vancouver, February 7th, 2006 - Greenpeace applauded today's news that a third of Canada's unique Great Bear Rainforest is to be saved from the chainsaws. Following a decade of campaigning by Greenpeace, other leading environmental groups [1] and indigenous First Nations, the British Columbian Government has pledged to fully protect two million hectares of the ancient forest [2] and to dramatically improve bad logging practices in the rest of the forest.

"Today's decision is welcome news for the Great Bear Rainforest which was being destroyed at an alarming rate to feed a growing international appetite for wood, paper and toilet roll," said Gavin Edwards, Global Forest Campaign Coordinator, Greenpeace International. "The world's last ancient forests need a global network of protected areas to survive - and the Great Bear Rainforest is a good start."

The protected forest will be a haven for threatened or endangered species including grizzly, black and rare white 'Spirit' bears, wild salmon, eagles and wolves as well as 1,000-year-old cedar trees and ancient spruce. In recent years, its rapid destruction has raised international concern and protest.

Companies such as BBC Worldwide Publishing put pressure on the logging companies to protect the forest and over 80 others, including Mitsubishi Corporation and the Belgian Timber Trade Federation, even stopped buying products made from Great Bear Rainforest wood.

In response, the British Columbian Government has committed to:

- Fully protecting 33 per cent of the Great Bear Rainforest from logging;
- Making sure the logging industry implements a strict ecosystem-based management system in the rest of the forest by 2009. This means any logging that will be sustainable in nature, and that many additional areas will be protected. The entire forest covers 6.4m hectares.

"Today's announcement plants the seeds to safeguard this global treasure but the true measure of success will be signs of change on the ground and in the forest," said Amanda Carr, forest campaigner for Greenpeace Canada. "Greenpeace will be watching to see if the British Columbian Government follows through on these commitments and takes this opportunity to make the Great Bear Rainforest a global model of forest sustainability."

Greenpeace is supporting an initiative to raise $120m to help develop a new and diverse economy in the Great Bear Rainforest, based on conservation. To date, $90m has been raised, including $30m from the British Columbian government. A further $30m is needed from the Canadian federal government.

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organization, which uses non-violent, creative communication tools to put the spotlight on global environmental problems and to drive towards solutions essential for a green and peaceful future. It is committed to protecting the world's last ancient forests and the plants, animals and people who depend on them.

For more information please contact:

Amanda Carr, Forest Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada (+1 604 839-8760)

Gavin Edwards, Global Forest Campaign Coordinator, Greenpeace International (+31 652 391 429)

Images of the Great Bear Rainforest are available on request.

Notes to Editors:
[1] Greenpeace, ForestEthics, Rainforest Action Network and Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter.
[2] This total includes new and previously protected areas and special no logging zones.

Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia

Greenpeace today applauded the Government of British Columbia (BC) for agreeing to take significant steps to protect the Great Bear Rainforest. Located on the west coast of Canada, this ancient rainforest is one of the world's natural treasures.

Speaking on a joint platform with logging companies and BC government officials at the Canadian High Commission in London, Greenpeace confirmed to representatives of the UK timber trade, environmental groups and journalists that it will end its campaign targeting companies linked to the destruction of the Great Bear Rainforest. (1)

Twenty large pristine valleys representing an area nearly four times the size of Greater London (603,000 hectares) will receive permanent protection. Logging of a further 68 valleys (536,000 hectares) has been suspended for up to two years while negotiations over their future continue.

The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest remaining coastal temperate rainforest in the world. It is home to thousands of species of plants and animals including 1000 year old cedar trees, towering ancient spruce trees, grizzly bears, black bears and the rare white-coated spirit bears, eagles, wolves and endangered salmon runs.

Speaking at today's meeting organised by the Canadian Government, John Sauven, Greenpeace UK Campaign Director, said:

"It's been a rough and bumpy ride to get to everyone to this stage. We are delighted that UK companies supported measures to defend this global legacy from being destroyed to make toilet paper and conservatories."

In 1998, Greenpeace alerted major UK companies to the threat of industrial clearcut logging in the Great Bear Rainforest by BC's largest logging companies. This led a number of major UK companies to declare that they would stop using Canada's rainforest timber in their products.

BBC Magazines informed Greenpeace that "We're keen to put pressure on them [Western Forest Products] to stop and think about what they plan for one of the world's remaining and priceless natural treasures."

During the same year, other major UK buyers such as B&Q, Sainsbury's Homebase, Do It All, Magnet and Courtaulds announced similar positions.

The world's leading tissue manufacturer, Kimberly-Clark, makers of Britain's top toilet tissue brand, informed Greenpeace that "No use will be made of any coastal British Columbian wood fibre in making any Kimberly-Clark consumer products anywhere in the world."

In December 2000, following Greenpeace talks with British fund manager Friends Ivory Sime, the company sold its £.2 million worth of shares in Interfor, one of the main logging companies in the Great Bear Rainforest.

In February 2001, Durham-based Amdega, the world's leading manufacturer of conservatories and the largest UK customer of Interfor, told Greenpeace it "would not be placing any further orders [with Interfor] for the foreseeable future".

Greenpeace's ten year campaign to protect Canada's threatened ancient rainforest has targeted companies in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan which were linked to the destruction of these forests. Actions have included blockades of timber shipments and protests at embassies, retail outlets and timber yards.

Sauven concluded:
"Logging companies destroying ancient forests in the Amazon, in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, in the Congo Basin and in Russia should take note. The BC Government and the logging industry have learnt the hard way that it is no longer acceptable to continue to destroy these irreplaceable natural treasures. Greenpeace will step up its campaign against those who fail to take action to protect what remains of the world's ancient forests."

Notes to Editors:
Photos and footage of the Great Bear Rainforest and Greenpeace direct actions around the world are available from the Greenpeace Press Office.

1. The delegation is composed of representatives from the BC Ministry of Forests, Canadian Forest Products Ltd, Central Coast District, Kitasoo Band Council, Greenpeace, International Forest Products Ltd, Norske Skog Canada, Sierra Club of BC, Western Forest Products Ltd, Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.

2. Environmental groups include Greenpeace, Sierra Club of BC, Rainforest Action Network and Forest Ethics.

3. Greenpeace is running a global campaign to protect the world's remaining ancient forests including the Russian boreal forest and the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the Amazon and the Congo Basin.

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255.

Clearcut forest in British Columbia

Greenpeace today applauded the Government of British Columbia (B.C.) for endorsing a proposal by Greenpeace, other NGOs, logging companies and other stakeholders to protect 20 critical pristine valleys in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest. The government also endorsed a major reform that would end destructive logging practises in this globally threatened forest.

The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest remaining ancient temperate rainforest in the world. It is home to thousands of species of plants, birds and animals including grizzly bears and the rare Kermode or spirit bears, wolves, bald eagles and endangered salmon runs.

Following an intensive global campaign in the market place over the past 5 years, Greenpeace and other environmental groups (1) have been in negotiations with logging companies, First Nations, coastal communities, workers and other stakeholders to agree upon a process which would end the conflict in the rainforest. The first phase of that agreement was endorsed today by the B.C. government. It provides for permanent protection of 20 rainforest valleys, deferrals of logging in 68 valleys, and an ongoing process towards protecting the Great Bear Rainforest. Once the plan is phased in, it will also guarantee that future logging practices in other areas of the Great Bear Rainforest will become more ecologically responsible.

"This is a tremendous leap forward in securing the future of the Great Bear Rainforest," said Brenda Ramsey, Greenpeace UK Forest Campaigner. "Today is a day for celebration. Tomorrow we can continue the work to ensure that the long term health of the Great Bear Rainforest is guaranteed."

The B.C. government's endorsement today follows an intense global campaign by environmental organizations targeting the trade and investments of companies involved with logging the rainforest. In recent months, Greenpeace has been increasing pressure by conducting a world-wide campaign targeting coastal logging companies. Greenpeace successfully forced International Forest Products (Interfor) and West Fraser to agree to a long-term moratorium on logging and the need for protected areas in the Great Bear Rainforest.

During this campaign Greenpeace carried out protests and other campaign activities in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan, with blockades of wood shipments, protests at embassies, retail outlets and lumber yards, and back room discussions with customers of the B.C. companies, to persuade investors and customers to demand an end to the destruction.

As a result of the campaign by Greenpeace and other NGOs, British and Canadian fund managers, including the Royal Bank, have divested shares in logging companies, and dozens of companies have voiced strong concerns over the practices of B.C. logging companies. These include Home Depot (the world's largest "Do it yourself" store) and powerful pulp buyers such as the German paper and magazine association. Companies such as England's Amdega (one of the world's largest conservatory manufacturers), Auspine (Australian timber importer), the Italian supermarket chain Coop, the Belgian Timber Trade Federation (representing Belgian timber importers) and other companies in New Zealand, China and The Netherlands have all recently ceased buying products derived from Interfor. In Japan alone more than 70 companies including Mitsubishi & Fujiya have now made a commitment to stop buying products from Interfor.

"Logging companies destroying ancient forests around the world and their customers should take note of what has happened here today in British Columbia. The B.C. Government and the logging industry have shown that it is no longer acceptable to continue to destroy these priceless global treasures," said Tim Birch, Greenpeace International Forests Campaigner. "The global demand for products from ancient forest destruction will continue to decrease as informed customers make responsible choices. Greenpeace will be stepping-up its campaign to target governments and companies who fail to take action to protect the world's last remaining ancient forests." (2)

Greenpeace suspended its campaign to target Interfor, West Fraser and their customers in the international marketplace last week after both companies agreed to endorse the plan that includes protection of key valleys, moratoria on logging in other valleys and the resolution of conflicts in the Elaho Valley north of Vancouver and proposed logging in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

Notes to Editors:
1. Environmental groups include: Greenpeace, Sierra Club of B.C., Rainforest Action Network and Forest Ethics.

2. Greenpeace International is running a global campaign to protect the world's last remaining ancient forests including the Russian boreal and the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the Amazon and the Congo Basin.

Further information:
Contact:
Brenda Ramsey, Forests Campaigner, 020 7865 8215
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255

Brown bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia

Greenpeace announced today that an historic agreement with logging companies has been reached on the conservation of Canada's remaining coastal rainforest. The consensus recommendations have been forwarded to the Government of British Columbia for its approval (1). This follows an intense global campaign by the international organisation targeting the trade and investments of companies involved with logging the endangered Great Bear Rainforest.

The Great Bear Rainforest on the coast of British Columbia (BC) is home to thousands of species of plants, birds and animals including the rare Kermode or spirit bears, wolves, bald eagles and endangered salmon runs.

Over the past months, Greenpeace has been running a major campaign to urge coastal forest companies, International Forest Products (Interfor) and West Fraser, to return to formal negotiations over the pristine and ecologically important areas of the Great Bear Rainforest and to support a long-term moratorium on logging whilst conservation plans are resolved for the region (2). Protests have been carried out by Greenpeace in Europe, North America and China and Japan, with blockades of wood shipments, protests at embassies, retail outlets and lumber yards, aimed at persuading investors and customers to demand an end to the destruction.

Greenpeace has reached agreement with Interfor and West Fraser setting out the necessary steps to ensure that this globally rare ancient forest is protected, logging practices are transformed and long-term solutions are implemented. The agreement allows for permanent protection of 20 rainforest valleys, deferrals of logging in another 68 valleys, and an ongoing process towards protecting the health of the Great Bear Rainforest over a one to two year time frame (3).

"This is a great leap forward in securing the future of Canada's rainforest," said Greenpeace Canada's forest campaign coordinator in Vancouver, Tamara Stark. "We're now counting on the BC Premier Ujjal Dosanjh to do the right thing and endorse this package."

Canadian & British fund managers have divested shares in logging companies, and dozens of companies have voiced strong concerns over the practices of BC logging companies. These include Home Depot (the world's largest DIY store) and the powerful pulp buyers such as the German paper and magazine association. Companies such as Amdega, (the world's largest conservatory manufacturer), Auspine (Australian timber importer), and the Italian supermarket chain Coop, the Belgian Timber Trade Federation (representing Belgian timber importers) and other companies in New Zealand, China and The Netherlands have all ceased buying products derived from Interfor. In Japan alone over 70 companies including Mitsubishi & Fujiya have stopped buying from Interfor following the release of a report naming Japanese customers.

"Logging companies are finally realising that a commitment to real change in the forest is the only way to find security in the global marketplace," said Phil Aikman, Greenpeace International's global markets campaign co-ordinator. "A commitment now by the BC government would send a strong signal to global customers of BC forest products that it is serious about moving down a path of environmental leadership in forest conservation and forest stewardship."

The Greenpeace campaign to protect the Great Bear Rainforest is part of a global campaign to protect the world's remaining ancient forests which are rapidly being lost to destructive logging practices, the largest single threat to their continued survival.

Notes for editors:
1. While the ultimate land use designation for many intact rainforest valleys remains to be resolved, this agreement - if recognised by the BC Government - would represent a significant step forward and creates a timeline by which responsible ecosystem-based forest management can take place. Protection of the valleys is subject to ratification by First Nations, in whose traditional territory the valleys lie. Any protection should accommodate the traditional needs of these communities.

2. Last May, Interfor & West Fraser walked away from landmark negotiations over a potential moratorium on logging in pristine and key ecological areas of the Great Bear Rainforest. Seventy-seven per of British Columbians supported these negotiations according to an April 2000 opinion poll.

3. The bilateral agreement with Interfor also tackles controversial issues such as logging in the Elaho Valley north of Vancouver, and proposed logging in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island by Interfor.