Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest (GBR) is a global treasure that covers 6.4 million hectares on British Columbia’s north and central coast. All British Columbians have a stake in protecting it.

The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, between the Coastal First Nations, Nanwakolas Council and the Province of BC, secures the future of the Great Bear Rainforest. Ancient forests and critical wildlife habitat will be protected and conserved. Economic development opportunities and jobs for local communities and First Nations will be maintained. Forest carbon projects will contribute to ensuring First Nations have the resources they need to implement the Agreement.

On this page

• Working together
• The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement
• Visit this amazing place
• Queens Commonwealth Canopy​
• Learn more about the Great Bear Rainforest​

Working together

In February 2016, Coastal First Nations, Nanwakolas Council, the Government of B.C., environmental groups, and forest industry representatives announced a final agreement on how the Great Bear Rainforest would be protected and conserved now and into the future. The approach is Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) which draws upon both Indigenous and non-Indigenous science and local knowledge. EBM provides a framework for understanding regional and local ecosystems in the context of seasonal and long-term climate change. This includes how people interact with their environment, how ecosystem health can be maintained, and how the needs of local communities can be met.

The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement

The 2023 Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order and 2016 Great Bear Rainforest (Forest Management) Act are the result of historic agreements between the First Nations who initiated the Great Bear Forest Carbon Projects and the Province of B.C. They build upon the establishment of protected areas and interim GBR land-use orders in 2009. The agreements enabled a shift from conventional land use planning and forest management practices to Ecosystem-Based Management. 

The Great Bear Rainforest agreements, the government-to-government agreements and legislative and regulatory decisions, and the Great Bear Carbon Credit Projects will lead to the protection and conservation of 85% of the forest and more than 70% of the old growth in the Great Bear Rainforest over time. The outcome is a high level of ecological integrity and economic benefits for local communities. Learn more about this incredible place and the historic agreements that will conserve this area for generations to come.

• Great Bear Rainforest Agreement Highlights
• Coastal First Nations Atmospheric Benefit Sharing Agreement (2015) (PDF, 963KB)
• Nanwakolas First Nations Atmospheric Benefit Sharing Agreement (2016) (PDF, 373KB)

Visit this amazing place

The Great Bear Rainforest has become a popular destination for travelers seeking first-hand views of the region’s stunning landscapes, waterways and array of wildlife. Learn more about what this amazing place has to offer including how to get there and what is available to see once you arrive.

• Visit the Great Bear Rainforest

Queens Commonwealth Canopy

As part of their 2016 Royal Tour, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially endorsed the Great Bear Rainforest under The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy was launched in 2015 with the goal of uniting the Commonwealth’s 53 members in conserving forests for future generations. The initiative, in The Queen’s name, will raise the awareness of the Commonwealth’s 2.3 billion citizens of the value of saving forests and facilitate knowledge exchange between Commonwealth members, sharing best practices and creating new, collaborative initiatives for forest conservation.

Learn more about the Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest Education and Awareness Trust is registered as a charitable organization effective January 1, 2018. The goal of the new Great Bear Rainforest Education and Awareness Trust is to foster a deeper public recognition and appreciation of the unique nature of the Great Bear Rainforest and how the Government of BC, First Nations, industry and environmental organizations developed a world-class and innovative approach to managing both the natural environment and human activities.

Among other learning tools, this website provides detailed information around: 

• The Region: The North Coast and Central Coast regions of B.C. are unique because of the highly diverse plant, animal, and marine life and the equally diverse geography and climate.
• Biodiversity: Learn about the rich diversity of marine life, mammals, birds, plants and trees that make B.C's Great Bear Rainforest their home and contribute to the natural beauty of the region.

You can also find lessons plans, backgrounders, photographs and other information that can be helpful to further your learning.