Backgrounder:
Summary of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework

Context

Canada’s boreal region contains one-quarter of the world’s remaining original forests. One of the largest intact forest ecosystems left on Earth, Canada’s boreal is home to a rich array of wildlife including migratory songbirds, waterfowl, bears, wolves and some of the world’s largest woodland caribou herds. The boreal region’s natural wealth sustains many of Canada’s aboriginal communities, who have lived in harmony with the boreal for thousands of years. It also supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions to the Canadian economy.

Vision

The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework is based on a shared vision to sustain the ecological and cultural integrity of the Canadian boreal forest region, in perpetuity.

Goal

The Framework’s goal is to conserve the cultural, sustainable economic and natural values of the entire Canadian boreal region by employing the principles of conservation biology to:

  • protect at least 50% of the region in a network of large interconnected protected areas, and
  • support sustainable communities, world-leading ecosystem-based resource management practices and state-of-the-art stewardship practices in the remaining landscape.

The Framework represents a national vision and goal for the region as a whole, rather than a formula to be applied on a unit-by-unit basis in a particular part of the boreal. In promoting a conservation approach for the entire boreal, the Framework recognizes that conservation challenges and opportunities will vary.

Principles

The principles of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework include:

  • Maintain ecological processes which account for the overall health of the boreal forest across the full spectrum of human uses;
  • Ensure sustainable economic benefits to Northern communities and the viability of commercial interests;
  • Respect the lands, rights and ways of life of Aboriginal peoples and First Nations;
  • Achieve optimal additional environmental and social benefit from the least raw material supply, cost, and workforce adjustment impact;
  • Utilize scientific knowledge, traditional knowledge, and local perspectives to achieve the conservation of natural and cultural values.

Commitments

The partners of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework are committed to supporting the Framework through a range of both individual and collaborative actions. These actions include but are not limited to support for and participation in:

  • scientific and traditional ecological knowledge research
  • land use planning
  • protected areas designations
  • innovative policy development supporting Framework principles
  • economic incentives for sustainability in the boreal region

December 1, 2003
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Phone: 613-230-4739
info@borealcanada.ca
www.borealcanada.ca

 

 
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