For Immediate Release: December, 13 2005
Early Christmas for the Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest
Conservation Organization and First Nations Take Control of Coastal Trophy Hunt
Location:
Metropolitan Hotel, Vancouver B.C.
645 Howe St at Dunsmuir. Crystal Ballroom
Date and time:
December, 13 2005 Tuesday
12:00 Noon
VANCOUVER, BC - In an unprecedented move, BC based Raincoast Conservation Society, with the support of five coastal First Nations, has bought one of the largest trophy hunting licenses in North America. The exclusive commercial license covers an area over 20,000 square kilometers of wildlife rich habitat including grizzly, black bear and the rare white spirit or Kermode bear, in addition to wolf, cougar and wolverine populations.
The license purchase follows years of controversy over the trophy hunting of large carnivores in the Great Bear Rainforest, including First Nations opposition to the sport hunt, decisive action taken by the European Union to ban the importation of grizzy bear parts from BC and threats of international boycotts from the tourism industry.
"Waiting for the Provincial government to do the right thing was just not an option," said Ian McAllister, Conservation Director for Raincoast. "We had to take direct action and purchasing the commercial trophy hunting rights was a very big first step towards shutting down the carnivore trophy hunt on the coast. The next move is in the hands of the province.”
This purchase represents the largest of its kind in North America and ensures that conservation is the primary objective in managing wildlife, not sport or profit.
“We view this cutting edge initiative as part of a larger effort to create a
conservation based economy on the central coast,” said Wuikinuxv Nation chief Alex Chartrand. “Our value system does not support killing animals for trophies and our communities are working hard to develop a sustainable wildlife viewing industry.”
“No public money was spent on the buy out and it will provide the necessary foundation for our communities to build a sustainable wildlife viewing industry – killing animals for sport and wildlife viewing are clearly incompatible ” stated Kitasoo/Xaixais band manager Percy Starr.
"Few places in the world match the Great Bear Rainforest area for wildlife viewing opportunities,” said Eric Boyum, of BC Commercial Bear Viewing Association. “Promoting sustainable businesses like wildlife viewing makes economic sense – the tourism industry applauds the work of Raincoast and the coastal First Nations."
"For over one hundred years the large carnivores of the BC central coast have been negatively impacted from commercial trophy hunting, today a new relationship is being forged between coastal wildlife and coastal communities," said Heiltsuk Chief Ross Wilson.
Please Contact:
Chief Alex Chartrand, Wuikinuxv Nation – 604 785 1196 cell, 1866 902 0427
Chief Ross Wilson, Heiltsuk Nation, - 604 813 3577 250 957 2381
Eric Boyum, Coastal Bear Viewing Association – 604 812 9161
Chris Genovali Raincoast, in Victoria, 250 655 1229
Ian McAllister, Raincoast Conservation Society, cell 250-881-2235, office 250-655-1229
Background:
No public funds were used for the purchase of this license, individual donors from nine countries contributed, the vast majority came from Canadian sources. Purchase price was $1.35 million dollars. The wildlife viewing sector in the Great Bear Rainforest is growing exponentially and represents increasing employment opportunities for coastal communities. Central Coast First Nations land use plans have formally endorsed an end to carnivore trophy hunting in traditional territories. The BC resident hunt remains the outstanding issue for government to address. The license will be operated by Raincoast Outfitters Ltd. as a going business concern while Land Use Plans are negotiated with the Province.
Press conference with representatives from Raincoast, Central Coast First Nations and the Bear Viewing Association. Audio visual materials available at 12:00.
Location:
Metropolitan Hotel, Vancouver B.C.
645 Howe St at Dunsmuir. Crystal Ballroom
Date and time:
December, 13 2005 Tuesday
12:00 Noon