Great Bear Forest Carbon Project

The Great Bear Forest Carbon Project (GBFCP), is the first carbon offset project in North America to be implemented on traditional territory with unextinguished Aboriginal rights and Title. The project increases carbon sequestration stocks through conversion to protected forests that were previously available for commercial logging.

The Coastal First Nations (CFN) developed the project in collaboration with the BC Government and is located in the Great Bear Rainforest on the territories of its member nations, including Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate and the council of the Haida Nation. Coastal old growth forests play an important role in capturing and storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide in the trees and soil, and the Great Bear Rainforest stores more carbon per hectare than any of the world’s tropical rainforests, including the Amazon.

The Great Bear Rainforest contains the Spirit Bear (Kermode Bear—a rare subspecies of the American black bear with white fur), grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, salmon runs, etc. The Coastal First Nations are the project proponents and own the carbon offsets, and revenue generated from all sales go directly to the First Nations communities. Proceeds are used to generate environmental steward jobs in the communities, support community development, youth programs and seniors' centres.