The ancient Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world (2 million hectares) and is home to a rich biodiversity of plants, birds, and animals.1,000-year-old cedar trees and 90-meter tall Sitka spruce trees can be found in this lush rainforest and salmon streams weave through valley bottoms providing a food source for orcas (killer whales), eagles, wolves, black bears, grizzlies, and the rare Spirit bear. Coastal temperate rainforests constitute one of the most endangered forest types on the planet.
Wild salmon are the most important keystone species for coastal rainforest ecosystems and Grizzly bears depend on healthy salmon runs for their survival. During the salmon runs, grizzlies can be found feeding in the estuaries.
The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest tract of unprotected intact coastal temperate rainforest left on earth (over 8 million hectares). It includes a vast riparian system of over 100 unlogged large watersheds and sustains 20% of the world’s wild salmon population. It supports tremendous biodiversity. In February 2006 an agreement was reached by the government along with the logging industry, the First Nations, and environmental groups. The agreement provides permanent protection for 2 million acres.
The Great Bear Rainforest agreements were a turning point for economic development in Klemtu. Under the agreements, 50 percent of Kitasoo/Xai’xais territory is now protected from logging, mining and other resource extraction, but can be used by members for food gathering and traditional uses, and for ecotourism. The remaining is managed according to ecosystem-based management principles and actions.
Within the 50% under formal protection the following two Conservancies (one listed as Category II under the IUCN, and the other listed as Ib) are primary tourism destinations within the territory and are now jointly managed by the Kitasoo Xai’Xais First Nation and the Provincial Government:
Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy – is world’s only protected area for the White Spirit Bear. Working with an ENGO and the province the Kitasoo Xai’Xais and the Gitga’at First Nations jointly announced protection in 2006 for 10 spirit bear habitat conservancies totaling 212,415 ha, the largest of which is the Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy comprised of 103,00 ha.
Fjordland Conservancy – formally a provincial recreation area was re-designated as a marine park covering an area of 75.97 square km.
The following are other designated Conservancies that have been created within the Kitasoo Xai’Xais traditional territory and are under joint management.
In addition to the protected areas, a commitment has been made to implement a new land management regime called ecosystem-based management throughout the coast.
EBM is a new approach to resource planning that integrates ecological, economic and social purposes and is designed to work as a management and planning regime that first looks at what is needed to be left in place to allow for a healthy ecosystem and then looks at what can be taken out.
The Kitasoo Xai’Xais First Nation is an active partner in this major coastal conservation initiative and Spirit Bear Lodge (SBL) is one of the key pieces of the conservation economy.
To quote Chief Douglas Neasloss “The new protected areas helped this community turn 180 degrees. We went from a community largely dependent on resource extractive jobs to a community whose economy was largely based on conservation and non-extractive activities.”
Chief Neasloss credits much of the success to the development of ecotourism in the region and to the development of Spirit Bear Lodge.
Some examples:
The Kitasoo/Xai’xais bighouse was built in 2001 built with materials gathered from local areas within the Kitasoo/Xai’xais territory. Today, the bighouse is an important place of cultural learning and revitalization and it is used for potlatches, feasts, gatherings, the SUA youth performance group, and tourism.
The new ferry terminal was built in collaboration with the Kitasoo Xai’Xais nation to integrate and express their unique culture throughout rather than the standard government ferry terminal including:
Spectacular gateway canoe that tells the legend of the creation of Klemtu
Cedar plank and crest covered waiting building evocative of a traditional longhouse
An imposing welcome carved pole by famed master carver Tom Hunt
A spinning salmon wind vane
Painted wood sign for Spirit Bear Lodge
Concrete lock-block walls embedded with relief sculptures of salmon and herring. Photo by Dawn Fry courtesy of Acton Ostry.
