A section of northern Canadian Forest that is roughly twice the size of England, will be protected from unbridled development under a conservation plan announced this week by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Scientists, First Nation and Métis communities will collaborate to map and permanently protect an interconnected network of 225,000 square kilometres of the Northern Boreal region. The McGuinty government will work with all northern communities and resource industries to create a broad plan for sustainable development.
As well, local plans will be developed in agreement with First Nations, and new mining development in the Far North will require early consultation and accommodation with local Aboriginal communities.
Ontario’s Northern Boreal region is one of the last truly wild spaces on the planet. It is home to over 200 sensitive species of animals–such as polar bears, wolverines, and caribou–many of which are threatened or endangered. Preserving these spaces will help ensure Ontario’s biodiversity.
Furthermore, permanently protecting these lands will also help reduce the effects of climate change, as they are a globally significant carbon sink, absorbing approximately 12.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.
"Although the Northern Boreal region has remained virtually undisturbed since the retreat of the glaciers, change is inevitably coming to these lands. We need to prepare for development and plan for it. It’s our responsibility as global citizens to get this right, and to act now," said Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The Northern Boreal region is 43% of Ontario’s land mass.
"This announcement sets out the most ambitious conservation agenda for the Boreal Forest in Canada," said Janet Sumner, executive director of The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Wildlands League. "Today’s announcement fulfills the premier’s promise to protect the boreal forest by doing land use planning before large scale industrial development."
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