April 2000

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Discussion over fate of last rainforest valleys

Greenpeace: Three environmental groups confirmed that they have been involved in discussions with the six major logging companies on B.C.'s coast over a proposed moratorium in the last large rainforest valleys in B.C.

The talks are a direct result of international markets pressure and are aimed at ensuring the survival of the largest remaining tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world, which are currently slated for logging. The groups involved are the Sierra Club of B.C., the Coastal Rainforest Coalition and Greenpeace, who have been in discussions with Western Forest Products, International Forest Products, West Fraser Timber, Canadian Forest Products, Fletcher-Challenge Canada and Weyerhaeuser.

"The global market and the public are demanding a halt to the destruction of these last rainforests," said Catherine Stewart of Greenpeace. "This escalating pressure has brought the industry to the table, and we are exploring all options to bring about a resolution in the forests and a new economy for the coast of BC

"We are trying to agree to a cease-fire that allows us the time and space to explore the full range of options for the last remaining ancient rainforests on the B.C. coast," said Merran Smith, Forest Campaigner for the Sierra Club of B.C. "The bottom line is the status quo is not an option: we need new, creative solutions that protect the coastal rainforest and the communities that depend upon it."

The groups highlighted that the primary objective of the talks is to create an opportunity to bring communities, First Nations, industry and environmentalists together to develop a new economy that truly protects the globally significant values contained by B.C.'s ancient coastal rainforests.