Vast swathe of Northern Canada protected

July 2008. The Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, has made a bold commitment to protect at least half of Ontario's Boreal Forest. More than 225,000 km2 - 55 million acres - will be protected in an interconnected network of conservation lands, developed through an innovative land use planning framework involving First Nations, local communities, resource industries and conservationists.

Home to billions of birds & bears, moose, wolves etc.
This is one of the most significant conservation commitments on Earth. Ontario's proposal to protect a significant portion of Ontario¹s Boreal forest from industrial development is supported by thousands of the world¹s leading scientists who recognize that keeping Canada¹s Boreal Forest intact is critical to both Canada and the world. Canada's Boreal Forest, a global treasure, is a carbon bank, home to billions of birds and provides critical habitat to some of the planet's largest populations of moose, bear, wolves and other wildlife.

First Nations
McGuinty also announced a sweeping mining reform package that is unprecedented in North America in recognizing the role of First Nations and the need to share resource benefits with local communities. McGuinty's mining reform announcement comes after months of controversy due to First Nations Chiefs being imprisoned for peacefully protesting mining on their traditional lands.

Vast wilderness
Ontario's Far North Boreal Forest is one of the last, great, undeveloped spaces on the planet and a vital carbon sink. The forests and peat lands in the Far North store about 97 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and absorb around 12.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

It is also one of the world's largest intact ecosystems. The Northern Boreal region contains more than 200 sensitive species of animals - including polar bears, wolverines and caribou - as well as many species of migratory birds.

Although it is 43 per cent of Ontario's landmass, the region is home to just 24,000 people living in 36 communities. Most of these people are First Nations, living in remote communities far beyond the end of Ontario's road and infrastructure network.

What is Being Protected?
Scientists have said that in order to preserve a healthy ecosystem in the Far North, a minimum of half of the land be protected while allowing carefully managed sustainable development in remaining lands.

The Ontario government will be protecting more than 225,000 square kms - or more than half of the Northern Boreal lands - in an interconnected network of conservation lands. Priority will be given to protect lands with key ecological features such as habitat for endangered species or important carbon sinks. These lands will be permanently protected through the Far North planning process. Activity on these lands will be restricted to tourism and traditional Aboriginal uses.

Preserving these lands also protects the core cultural connection of the Aboriginal people who live there - their connection to the land, clean water and abundant hunting and fishing.