A broadly-based coalition of forest sector stakeholders is taking action to ensure the Industry's customers have good information not only about our world-class products, but also our world-class environmental stewardship.

The Coalition includes the Council of Forests Industries, the Truckloggers Association, the Union of BC Municipalities, the BC Chamber of Commerce and many others. The Coalition intends to provide British Columbians, customers and other key audiences information that proves the BC forest sector is committed to environmentally sensitive and sustainable forestry. In spreading this message, we also have three goals:

1. To win public reaffirmation for the sector's mandate;
2. To ensure access to a secure wood supply; and
3. To protect access to our customers and markets.

The Forest Sector and Community Coalition believe that all those who benefit from the forest industry in BC - including the provincial government - must rally around one simple but compelling message: The forest sector has embraced its responsibility to manage a precious public resource sustainably and with sensitivity to the global ecological significance of our forests.

We must demonstrate that the forest sector is a vibrant, innovative, technologically advanced and responsible contributor to the fabric of the province. We are set to fan out into our markets in Japan, the US and Europe, to show our customers that BC is setting the global standard for responsible environmental practice.

We will ensure that our customers know the BC story. They need to know our products come from the most stringently regulated forests in the world, that we are world leaders in preserving sensitive eco-systems. BC should, in fact, become the international environmental choice among customers and key influencers.

The campaign has a domestic component designed to rebuild pride in forestry and to provide the provincial government with the support it needs to be an advocate for the industry and to take the bold policy initiatives required to rebuild our competitiveness.

On the international front, we have a great story to tell about our stewardship:

Democratic Land Use Planning: Land use is determined through open and democratic processes that emphasize local input.

Unrivaled Protected Areas: We've already met the World Wildlife Fund target for total protected forest area and the United Nations target for total protected area. Since 1992, we've created more than 300 new protected areas.

Old Growth Conserved: Although we've been logging for more than 120 years, almost 80 per cent of our forests remain untouched.

Limited Working Forest: Although forests cover over 62 per cent of BC, the Working Forest is limited to just 24 per cent of the province.

Regulated and Limited Logging: Less than one per cent of our Working Forest is harvested annually at rates set by the province's chief forester through an intensive, analytical, open and transparent public process.

Unparalleled Forest Practices Regulation: BC's Forest Practices Code is unmatched in the world. The government makes about 40,000 inspections of industry practices each year and has found a compliance rate of about 98 per cent.

Full Reforestation: By law, all harvested areas must be reforested. More than 200 million seedlings, or about three seedlings for every tree cut, are planted every year to supplement natural regrowth. We will soon plant our five billionth tree.

Independent Certification: Forest companies are seeking independent certification of their forest practices. Eighteen months ago, there were no certified lands in BC. Now, more than 40 per cent of the allowable harvest is certified, and more is on the way.