The Canadian Boreal Initiative

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The Canadian Boreal Initiative
(www.borealcanada.ca)
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The Canadian Boreal Forest

• Canadas boreal region contains ¼ of the worlds
  remaining original forest
• One of three largest ecologically intact areas in
  the world (along with Amazon Rainforest and
  Siberian Tundra)
• Spans about 600 million hectares (1,482,600,000
  acres!)
• Relatively speaking, very little has been
  destroyed, leaving many acres eligible to fit
  within the conservations framework.
• Forests (in general) are the most diverse
  ecosystems on earth (http//www.cifor.cgiar.org/do
  cs/_ref/findoutabout/biodiversity/index.htm)

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Overview of Initiative

• The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework
  reflects the collective wisdom of the Boreal
  Leadership Council and is based on the best
  currently available information. Over the coming
  months, the CBI will be working with Council
  members to expand Framework endorsement in a
  variety of sectors, generate on-the-ground
  examples of the Framework principles in action,
  and create opportunities for governments to
  become engaged and active participants. The CBI
  has also commissioned science-based research to
  refine the necessary levels of protection and
  other activities required to implement this
  vision.
• http//borealcanada.ca/framework_e.cfm

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The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework

• Implemented Dec. 1, 2003, following
  recommendations from a 1999 report from the
  Canadian Senate
• Goal protect at least 50 of the region in a
  network of large, interconnected protected areas.

Frontier forests 8,000 years ago
Frontier Forests Today
SourceWorld Resources Institute
athttp//www.wri.org
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Other Major Goals

• Working with companies that once wanted to
  develop the forest (including Suncor Energy,
  Domtar, Tembec and Alberta-Pacific Forest
  Industries.)
• (http//www.cangeo.ca/magazine/jf04/indepth/intern
  ational.asp)
• Incorporate Aboriginal peoples in decision making
  processes
• Establish not only protected areas, but
  sustainable development areas as well

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Addressing the Issues

• Climate Change
• In order to reduce the impacts of human induced
  climate change to the greatest extent possible,
  participating parties under this Framework will
  adopt measures to maintain and enhance the vast
  carbon sequestration and storage value of
  Canadian boreal landscapes. These measures will
  be consistent with the goals and principles of
  the Framework.
• (http//www.borealcanada.ca/framework_document_e.c
  fm)

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Addressing the Issues

• Air and Water Quality
• Less machinery in the forest less pollution
• Less dammed rivers
• More trees, more photosynthesis
• Less greenhouse gasses emitted
• Less oil pollution into waterways

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Addressing the Issues

• Population Pressures
• Increasing population means more demand for goods
  that come from trees
• Forces consumers to look for alternatives

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Addressing the Issues

• Economic Considerations
• Respects the rights and needs of existing
  commercial, recreational, and traditional uses
• Oil and gas mining will be allowed in some areas,
  but will adhere to strict reclamation standards
  and security deposits to protect and restore
  native biodiversity (http//www.borealcanada.ca/fr
  amework_document_e.cfm)
• Fosters healthy regional economies
• Resource management decisions in the hands of
  native Aboriginal peoples if development is on
  their land

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Addressing the Issues

• Habitat Preservation
• New network of wilderness areas created to
  connect individually protected habitats
• Protected areas will allow hunting, fishing, and
  gathering, but no industrial development

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Addressing the Issues

• Biodiversity
• 1994 Migratory Bird Act

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Project Goals

• 1994 Migratory Bird Act

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Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths
• Very large area of land to be preserved
• Has the ability to set a precedent for other
  countries and organizations
• Weaknesses
• A lot of complaining, not a lot of action

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Deforestation

• The Tropical Rainforest

http//www.mongabay.com/brazil.html
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Deforestation Fact

• In May 2005, the government of Brazil released
  figures showing deforestation in the Amazon
  rainforest reached the 10,088 square miles
  (26,129 square kilometers) for the year ending
  August 2004. Deforestation in the Amazon in 2004
  was the second worst ever as rain forest was
  cleared for cattle ranches and soy farms.

http//www.mongabay.com/brazil.html
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• WE DONT WANT THE BOREAL FOREST TO END UP LIKE
  THE AMAZON RAINFOREST! YAY BOREAL CONSERVATION
  INITIATIVE

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Canadian Wildlife Service

• protecting areas by securing lands important to
  migratory bird species
• providing tools for local decision-makers and
  promoting a conservation ethic
• encouraging agricultural and private land
  stewardship
• supporting community involvement in habitat
  conservation
• assessing environmental impact of developments on
  migratory birds and other federally managed
  wildlife and advising on how to avoid or minimize
  adverse effects.

http//www.pyr.ec.gc.ca/EN/Wildlife/habitat/index.
shtml
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http//www.dawnweimer.com/fine_art_prints/canadas_
over_the_rockies_fine_art_print_.html