Taking place on June 5th, World Environment Day serves as a reminder to take a closer look at our impact on the environment and to see if there is more we could be doing (spoiler alert: there always is!)
But of course these efforts must be made year-round, and wildlife viewing haven Tweedsmuir Park Lodge in Bella Coola, British Columbia is one establishment that is committed to saving our environment on World Environment Day and beyond—a commitment that is exemplified by its designation as a Climate Positive lodge.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Ecoystem Restoration’, encouraging businesses and people to take urgent action to protect ecosystems. One of the most biodiverse and pristine ecosystems in the world is B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest, and Tweedsmuir Park Lodge’s dedication to the environment starts right in its own backyard.
The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest expanse of coastal temperate rainforest on the planet, and one of the most ecologically significant of its kind. Expanding over 85,000 square kilometres, the rainforest harbours vast resources valuable to Coastal First Nations and incredibly abundant wildlife.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is committed to sustaining the beauty of its homeland by purchasing carbon offsets that support the Great Bear Rainforest Project, which converts forests previously approved for commercial logging into protected ecosystems. The Great Bear Forest Carbon Project protects vulnerable areas of B.C.’s old-growth forests, which capture and store CO2 in the trees and help the ecosystem to survive and thrive. Funds from the project also support local First Nations and educational platforms, encouraging others to join the fight against climate change.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
“We are lucky to live, and work, in a stunning and pristine environment, and have a wonderful community supporting us," says Beat Steiner, co-owner of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge. "We recognize the importance of preserving wildlife and the environment, so that future generations can experience the same wonders that we experience here every day. This World Environment Day, we are committing to not just following environmental trends, but to be pioneers in creating a more sustainable and balanced business model, where we can minimize our footprint as well as give back to the environment and community.”
But every establishment comes with an unavoidable carbon footprint, so Tweedsmuir Park's environmental efforts go beyond just the bare minimum of what should be expected by an eco-conscious lodge.
“Rather than contributing just enough to mitigate the company’s greenhouse gas emissions, we opted to become climate positive,” said Steiner. “We are offsetting more than we emit and hope to inspire other companies to join the fight against climate change just as others inspired us.”
Tweedsmuir Park LodgeLocated a 70-minute flight north of Vancouver, Tweedsmuir Park is also working on policies for its award-winning heli-skiing company, Bella Coola Heli Sports, to reduce carbon emissions company-wide. The company has reduced carbon emissions to match the lodge in becoming climate positive, proudly earning the title of becoming the world’s first, and only, climate-positive heli-skiing operation.
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is leading by example and going above and beyond in its efforts to save the environment. This World Environment Day is an opportunity to ask yourself what more you can be doing as a person, employee and overall lover of the planet.