The absence of soil hinders the return of the majestic western red cedar and sitka spruce. Some cedars are more than 1,000 years old, and sitka spruce can be 300 feet tall. Soil washes into streams, destroying salmon spawning grounds and depriving bears of salmon, an important food source. First Nations and resource-based communities are profoundly affected by declining salmon stocks. Clearcutting also prevents local communities from developing ecologically and economically sustainable activities such as eco-tourism and sustainable forestry and fishing.
Ancient forests provide habitat for plants and animals that have evolved over millions of years.
Once destroyed, they can never be replaced. The United States imports over half of B.C.s rainforest products in the form of pulp, paper and lumber. U.S. lumber companies have destroyed 95 percent of the ancient forests in the lower 48 U.S. states. The Kitasoo people say the Creator promised that this white bear would always exist to remind us of the time when glaciers covered the land. Only 100 spirit bears remain.