Protection of B.C.'s Great Bear coast gets federal funding boost
The federal government has announced a new financing initiative for 17 First Nations in British Columbia to expand protection for marine ecosystems off the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference announcing the so-called Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative that it will add about 14,000 square kilometres of newly protected areas.
He said it will also support sustainable development for the waters off the rainforest on B.C.'s central and northern coast.
"This initiative demonstrates what we've long known: reconciliation, nature protection and economic growth go hand-in-hand," the prime minister told the news conference in Vancouver.
The federal government is committing $200 million, B.C. is contributing $60 million, while $75 million is coming from philanthropic investors, for a total of $335 million to create an ongoing endowment fund.
The new financing initiative follows a model set out by the Great Bear Rainforest agreement, which has protected large swaths of old-growth forests while supporting job creation and economic diversification for communities along the coast.
A statement from Coast Funds, Coastal First Nations and the Nanwakolas Council says the Great Bear Sea, also known as the Northern Shelf Bioregion, extends from the north coast of Vancouver Island to Canada's boundary with Alaska.
It is home to various habitats and ecosystems, including open ocean, estuaries, dense kelp forests, expansive coral and sponge beds and deep fjords.
The groups describe the area as one of the richest and most productive cold-water marine ecoregions on Earth, home to marine life including herring, salmon, seabirds, whales and kelp forests. It's also a source of food, culture and livelihood for Indigenous Peoples and "all who call the coast home," the statement says.
Dallas Smith, president of Nanwakolas Council, said part of the money will fund marine research, year-round stewardship officers and creating more sustainable economic opportunities for the First Nations communities.
"We're looking at different ecotourism to sort of supplement the terrestrial ecotourism that we've done," he said in an interview. "We're looking at botanicals, we're looking at marine harvest opportunities and seafood harvesting opportunities."
He said the historic agreement follows about two decades of discussions with three different prime ministers and five premiers.
George Heyman, B.C.'s environment minister, said collaboration with First Nations communities is "the only way" the province can meet its goal of protecting 30 per cent of British Columbia's lands and waters by 2030.
"It's a major milestone (after) 13 years of work for the B.C. government (and) a couple of decades of work of the First Nations, who have this vision and were determined to achieve it," he said.
"We will create thousands of new jobs -- permanent jobs that will advance sustainable fisheries, will create economic opportunities throughout the region, as well as supporting Indigenous guardianship to protect and conserve the region."
Chief Marilyn Slett from the Heiltsuk Nation on B.C.'s central coast said the funding will support First Nations' conservation and community development plans.
Slett, who also serves as president of Coastal First Nations, said the upfront capital announced at the news conference is expected to return more than $750 million over the next two decades.
"This is huge and exciting for the coast. These funds will support collaborative management of new marine protected areas, and will sustain jobs and careers in marine stewardship, conservation, research and monitoring — our essential work to restore and protect fish, wildlife and a healthy sea we all depend on."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah was a 'measure of justice' for victims of a four-decade 'reign of terror,' U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.
LGBTQ2S+ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
At least 52 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across southeastern U.S.
Hurricane Helene caused at least 52 deaths and billions of dollars of destruction across a wide swath of the southeastern U.S. as it raced through, and more than three million customers went into the weekend without any power and for some a continued threat of floods.
Canadian innovators, tech leaders gather in Ottawa: GCXpo 2024
Canadian innovators and technical leaders gathered in Ottawa Thursday to demonstrate the latest cutting-edge technology.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.
Scientists discover hidden ancient forest on treeless island
Trees haven't grown on the Falkland Islands for thousands of years. But tree trunks and branches preserved in peat suggest the islands were once home to a forest.