The Great Bear rainforest falls under the forest classification of coastal temperate rain forests, which is one type of the most endangered types of forests across the globe; before the threat of logging and other human activities threatening their existence, they covered 1/5 of 1% of the earth’s land surface.
Approximately, 60% of the original coverage of these forests, have been destroyed through development and logging among other human activities. The Great Bear rainforest is one ecological center, which provides an unforgettable adventure site, where there are mountains, waterfalls, coastal and water slide scenery.
This paper is a discussion of the recent proposals to expand the protection of the forest and its scenery, which may not be witnessed anywhere else in the world (Raincoast Conservation Society).
Following the threat of the Great Bear forest, which is one of the few remaining but threatened forest type, scientists around the world have raised concerns over the delays facing the implementation of protection agreements, which are supposed to increase the protection of the threatened forest area.
Further, scientists have been in the fore front, insisting that the BC should fasten the protection processes for the forest.
An example of this was the request sent by global rainforest scientists attending the Earth Summit at Rio, pushing for a faster process to implement the protection of the forest (Gracey 1; Reichel 1).
The stakeholders to be affected by the proposed expansion of the protected area of the forest, include the loggers, who earn their income from the logging activities at the forest.
The B.C government is another stakeholder, as its leadership to guide the players to take place in the protection and the making of the agreement, rely on its directing.
The players under the B.C government stakeholders group, include the employees at the ministry of forests, land and natural resources, central and local authorities, for example, the provincial authorities who are greatly involved in the proposal.
There are the forest and research scientists group from different nations, who are pushing the completion of the protection agreement and process, as they are interested in fighting for increased protection of the threatened classification of forests.
Oil companies like the Northern Gateway pipeline company is also interested in the progress of the protection, as its enacting will affect its oil drilling and transportation operations.
Other stakeholders include tourists, who will benefit from viewing the threatened scenery after protection (Raincoast Conservation Society; Reichel 1; Gracey 1).
The benefits from the protection of the forest will include the protection of the wildlife and marine species that live at the temperate rain forest surroundings, which may not be found at other places, except at the few threatened areas.
From the protection of the forest, the authorities will realize the protection of the biodiversity at the area, including the rainforest forest plants, the marine and the land species residing at the region, including bears and the threatened vegetation and rare scenery.
From the implementation, the process will enable the first nation people living at the region, to improve the wellbeing of the community economically, environmentally, and for the general welfare of the people.
Another benefit is the creation of more tourist income avenues, from which the local people and the government can utilize for long-term growth.
The costs to be borne from implementing the protection of the forest include the cost of implementing the agreements and setting up the protection plan for the forest, and the income of the loggers, hunters and other people relying on the resources at the forest; these groups will lose their source of income and employment.
Another cost to be borne from the implementation is the economic potential of the players within the oil industry, as they will not be able to access the oil reserves at the area, which can form a great source of income and employment locally and nationally (Raincoast Conservation Society; Reichel 1; Gracey 1).
Works Cited
Gracey, Kyle. “Scientists around the world concerned over lengthy delays to fully implement the protection agreements in the Great Bear Rainforest.” Canada Newswire, 2012. Web.
Raincoast Conservation Society. Great Bear Rainforest. British Columbia, 2012. Web.
Reichel, Justina. “Scientists Urge BC to Speed up Protection of Iconic Rainforest: Half of Great Bear Rainforest remains open to logging.” The Epoch Times, 2012. Web.