B.C. Premier Christy Clark has travelled to London, U.K. to receive an important accolade highlighting the province’s role in preservation of the renowned Great Bear Rainforest, a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that has been threatened with development in recent years.
On Tuesday, Clark will take part in the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Initiative recognition ceremony.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy was launched in 2015 with the goal of uniting the Commonwealth’s 53 members in conserving forests for future generations. The initiative, in the Queen’s name, tries to raise awareness of the value of saving forests and facilitate knowledge exchange between Commonwealth members.
As part of the initiative and in a landmark agreement between First Nations, forest companies, environmental groups and the B.C. government, 85 per cent of the Great Bear Rainforest is now protected, meaning it is permanently off-limits to logging.
READ MORE: Most of B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest protected
The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, located on B.C.’s central coast about 700 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. Its unique ecosystem is home to many species, including the Kermode (Spirit) bear.
The B.C. government says the prestigious award “highlights the collaborative and world-leading approach British Columbia led with First Nations, environmental groups and forest companies to balance environmental and economic needs in the Great Bear Rainforest.”
Clark will become the first premier in over 40 years to attend an official function at Buckingham Palace.
Clark’s visit comes just two months after Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited B.C. and took an aerial tour of the Great Bear Rainforest.
READ MORE: Royal Visit 2016 – B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest receives special designation
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During the visit, Clark announced that a $1-million trust will be created to help raise awareness about the Great Bear Rainforest and support ongoing research.
Clark said the protected area of 6.4-million hectares is about the size of Ireland and it took about a decade to reach an agreement on its management.
“It was a long, hard negotiation but we all recognize we have a unique responsibility to preserve this jewel for the world,” she added.
Eduardo Sousa with Greanpeace Canada told Global News his organization supports the recognition.
“However, this project has been running for 20 years and it is not the premier’s work that should be recognized, but the hard work and leadership of all the parties involved, including First Nations, environmental groups, industry and the B.C. government,” said Sousa.
Sousa calls the premier’s track record on environmental issues “pretty abysmal” overall.
“Site C and Mount Polley are just a couple of examples,” he said.
The office of the premier says Clark is accepting the award on behalf of all the stakeholders involved in work on the preservation of the Great Bear Rainforest.
~With files from Amy Judd
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