A conservation group has bought the hunting rights to a big chunk of the great bear rainforest in an effort to protect BC's rare spirit bears.

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation has purchased a 3,500 square kilometre hunting licence.

Raincoast's Brian Falconer estimates there are 300 to 400 of the black bear subspecies living in the territory.

"Basically it includes all, or virtually all of the habitat of the spirit bear."

Raincoast plans to offer tours of the forest.

This move follows a declaration by coastal first nations prohibiting the trophy hunting of bears on their traditional territories.