Canadas Boreal Forest

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Canadas Boreal Forest
Missing Link in Global Climate Talks
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Where is the Boreal Forest?
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The Worlds Intact ForestsBefore and After
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The Worlds Intact ForestsBefore and After
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Canadas Boreal Forest

• 80 of the worlds intact forests have been
  lost
• Canadas Boreal Forest contains almost 25 of
  the worlds remaining intact forests

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Carbon Storage

• The global boreal ecosystem is the worlds
  largest land reservoir of carbon
• 186 billion tons of carbon, or 27 years worth of
  the worlds industrial emissions, are stored in
  its trees, soils, and peat

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But

• Current carbon international frameworks are
  inadequate for conserving northern biotic
  carbon
• This can undermine limits to industrial emissions

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Carbon and Biodiversity

• Stored terrestrial carbon often occurs in areas
  also rich with wildlife
• Overlap presents great opportunities to protect
  carbon and biodiversity at the same time

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Carbon Frequency and Caribou Habitat
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Industrial Impacts in Canadas Boreal
Logging
Oil Gas
Mining
Hydro
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Industrial Impacts in Canadas BorealBefore and
After
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Industrial Impacts in Canadas BorealBefore and
After
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30 Designated for Logging
Every minute, 2 acres of Boreal Forest are cut
down
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50 Claimed for Mining
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Scientists Call for Protection

• 1500 conservation scientists from around the
  world send letter to Canada in May 2007
• Letter urges asking that at least 50 of the
  Canadian Boreal Forest be permanently protected,
  with remaining 50 receiving sustainable
  development

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Conservation Planning Creates New Parks

• 130 million acres receives strict protection as
  new parks, wildlife refuges, and other
  conservation areas from 2000 to 2009
• Vast expansion (multiples) of existing parks in
  Nahanni, Great Slave Lake, Great Bear Lake,
  Northern Quebec

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Ontario Announces Conservation Plan to Protect
Boreal Forest
July 14, 2008 Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
follows advice from scientists, protects 110
million acres of intact Boreal Forest, half to
become new parks
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Québec Quickly Follows with Own Boreal
Conservation Plan
Nov. 16, 2008 Québec Premier Jean Charest
continues momentum with promise to protect 284
million acres
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