Media Centre

Media Releases - 2010

Canadian Boreal Initiative welcomes Premiers' support for protecting Canada's Boreal Forest and wetlands

OTTAWA, August, 12, 2010 - Following last week's Council of the Federation meetings, in which premiers from all the provinces and territories met in Manitoba, a joint endorsement of the Council of the Federation's Water Charter was issued, offering support for protecting Canada's Boreal Forest and wetlands. The premiers' resolution recognizes "the collective obligation of Canadians and their governments to be responsible water stewards."

In their endorsement of the charter, the 13 premiers state:

It is important that Canada’s wetlands and boreal forest be protected. The boreal forest is one of the world’s largest remaining intact forests, totaling 1.4 billion acres.

Click here to read the full resolution.

Click here to read the Council of the Federation's Water Charter

 

The Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) welcomes this support from Canada's provincial and territorial leaders. Canada's Boreal Forest region is the homelands of hundreds of Aboriginal communities and an ecosystem of world-class ecological and resource riches. It is a unique place in the world, where tremendous opportunity remains to advance solutions to balance protecting cultural values and wildlife with healthy economic futures.

CBI works with a broad base of partners to advance a framework for the future, developed by the Boreal Leadership Council. The Boreal Forest Conservation Framework aims to protect at least half of Canada's Boreal Forest while supporting world-leading sustainable development in the remaining areas in a manner which respects and advances Aboriginal rights and interests.

Through the leadership of Canadian and First Nations governments, industry, conservation groups and others, some of the groundwork to achieve these goals is advancing in a number of jurisdictions. There remain major challenges to overcome; however, positive support is growing impressively.

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The Canadian Boreal Initiative brings together diverse partners to advance real solutions for Boreal Forest conservation and sustainable management and acts as a catalyst for on-the-ground across the Boreal Forest by governments, industry, Aboriginal communities, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions, and scientists.

For more information, please contact:

Suzanne Fraser

Director of communications

613 232 2530 or 613 552 7277 (mobile)

sfraser <at> boreacanada ca