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Welcome to the Haida Gwaii Climate Forest Project Information Website! |
"South Moresby is the first of the last remaining regions in Canada
that have not been desecrated by the blind avarice of modern man.
It must be saved, not just for our time, but for all time."
-- Farley Mowat, Naturalist, Author SAVING OUR WORLD, ONE FOREST AT A TIME INTRODUCTION
The Haida Gwaii Climate Forest Pilot Project is a creative, eco-friendly and sustainable mechanism to mitigate climate-changing carbon emissions by restoring degraded forest lands to their ancient old growth glory. By permanently reforesting ancestral Haida Gwaii territory in British Columbia, the project will richly benefit local ecosystems, the Haida First Nation and the global atmosphere as well as financial supporters of this cause.  All of us involved in the launch of this project hope this website will provide all the information you need to appreciate the many synergistic advantages of this initiative for the region, its communities, and the planet as a whole. We look forward to your questions and suggestions. 
OUTLINE
The Haida Gwaii Climate Project plan initially proposes meticulous restoration of approximately 5~10 thousand hectares of degraded riparian reserve zones to their old growth characteristics. In addition to its immediate positive social and ecological impacts, this restoration activity will greatly multiply the land's carbon sequestration potential and thereby generate marketable "carbon credits" which can profitably self-finance full implementation of the plan.
OBJECTIVES
The project is designed as a model for sustainable development with three clearly identified environmental, economic and community-building goals. First iis the restoration of degraded lands to old growth forest vitality and diversity with the most advanced and eco-sensitive reforestation techniques. Second is the long-term sequestration of atmospheric carbon in the towering tree mass of the forest for all of its 700+ year life. Third is the participation of the communities of Haida Gwaii in this environmental effort and their direct environmental, social and economic benefit from it.
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Our Commitment to Sustainability |
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When our climate changes we all suffer the consequences and it's fair to say that we cannot turn on the news without being confronted by the very real consequences of climate change. Things are out of whack. Our polar ice caps are melting and there are African countries that have not seen rain in three years. We need to make changes. To be fair, we cannot blame any one age, industry or government. We have all done our part in consuming. This is not to say, however, that our problems don't have solutions. They do. But to fix our problems it will take the commitment of many individuals and groups to work together for change. With that said, never doubt for one moment that a small group of deeply committed people can change the world. So we make a commitment to the people of Haida Gwaii and all of Canada to make this important project happen. We're out to prove that we can restore lands that have been logged to the gunnels and give them back their old growth characteristics. We're out to prove that by doing this we can restore salmon habitat and biodiversity and help our atmosphere. We're out to prove that the communities of Haida Gwaii can work together to improve our environment - to fix our forests and our atmosphere - in a sustainable way. In short, our commitment is to a sustainable future. We're out to save the world, one forest at a time. |
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Haida Gwaii Yah’guudang |
~“Respect for this place” The Haida Nation is the rightful heir to Haida Gwaii. Our culture, our heritage, is the child of respect and intimacy with the land and sea. Like the forests, the roots of our people are intertwined such that the greatest troubles cannot overcome us. We owe our existence to Haida Gwaii. The living generation accepts the responsibility to ensure that our heritage is passed on to following generations. On these islands our ancestors lived and died, and here too we will make our homes until called away to join them in the great beyond. ~Council of the Haida Nation, May 2004  |
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