Canadian government to fund rainforest

The Canadian government has allocated CAN$30 million for the protection of the British Columbia rainforest, known as the Great Bear rainforest.

British Columbia's local government will match the contribution from the federal government, combining with outside contributions to create a total fund of $120 million.

The forest spans Canada's Pacific coast and boasts an array of wildlife in a unique mountainous environment.

The environment minister, John Baird, told the BBC that the deal marked a "strong link between a healthy ecosystem, a healthy society and Canada's economic prosperity".

In the past, the forest had been the subject of disputes between environmental groups and loggers, with an eventual deal brokered which limited logging and called for sustainable targets to be met.

The delicate ecosystem is home to grizzly bears, wolves, wild salmon and a number of native tribes.

Dense foliage and high arching trees create a canopy high up in the sky, resulting in a moist and temperate environment for wildlife to thrive in the dewy ground below.