In July 2008, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced a world-leading commitment to conservation-focused land-use planning for Ontario's Great Boreal Forest, including protection for more than 50% of the area. To make this bold commitment a reality, we need a strong Boreal legislation that:

1. Creates a well-resourced joint Planning Board to allow First Nations and the Province to work together and share implementation of planning.

2. Details how Ontario will work in partnership with First Nations to determine the location, use and management of the 50% or more of the region that the Premier has committed to protect as conservation lands.

3. Sets out how community plans will be developed and integrated with regional objectives.

4. Describes how communities will realize long-term benefits from development and their role in management.

5. Provides a clear role for a Science Advisory Committee, including objectives for how it will inform land-use planning.

6. Sets clear rules for the development of roads, corridors and industrial activity outside of protected areas.

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Scientists congratulate Premier on promise to protect boreal

Thirteen prominent scientists have published a public thank you to Premier Dalton McGuinty for his promise to protect at least half of Ontario's intact boreal forest. They state: "It has been rare that we have been witness to conservation actions of truly historic proportions. Canadians, and really all citizens of the world, should recognize that your pledge is such an action."

Scientists call for 50% of boreal to be permanently protected

1,500 highly respected scientists from more than 50 countries around the world have called for protection of Canada’s Boreal Forest. The scientists identify the 1.4 billion acre Canadian Boreal Forest as one of the largest intact forest and wetland ecosystems remaining on earth.

However, the Boreal Forest is under increasing pressure from corporate logging, mining and oil and gas operations and only 10% has been protected to date, far less than what is scientifically recognized as necessary to sustain the ecosystem over time.

The scientists’ letter recommends preserving a minimum of half of Canada’s Boreal Forest in protected areas while allowing only carefully managed development on the rest, in accordance with the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, a plan already endorsed by Canadian conservation groups, 25 Canadian First Nations, and more than 75 major businesses with annual sales of $30 billion.

Click here to read the scientists letter

More on the call by scientists for boreal protection

Reports and factsheets on the science of boreal protection