The boreal forest wraps the Earth's northern hemisphere like a green cloak. It covers close to 12% of the planet's surface and stretches across the heart of Canada from coast to coast. Canada's boreal forest makes up a key piece of what is one of the world's largest remaining still wild "frontier forests."

In Ontario, the boreal forest begins along the northern edge of the Great Lakes basin and stretches north for hundreds of kilometres to the lowlands of James Bay. The largest area of intact boreal forest in Canada is in Ontario and Manitoba. Read more on the heart of the boreal.

While sourthern parts of this forest have already been heavily developed and logged, the area north of roughly 51 degrees latitude (north of Red Lake) remains unallocated to industry and mostly undisturbed.

South of this line, all forested areas that exist on public lands (with the exception of protected areas) are subject to being developed by the forestry industry. Many have already been heavily cut, while others are being cut at this very moment. Many of these same areas have also been designated for mining exploration, hydro development, or road construction.

Canada’s boreal forest must be adequately protected. It is part of one of the world’s largest remaining “frontier forests” — one of the very few places left that still has a full complement of species and where ecosystems are shaped by natural forces like fire and wind, rather than human influences. Before we step over the line into the intact boreal forests north of 51 in Ontario, we must act responsibly to understand the impact of our decisions, and find approaches that will ensure the ecosystems and communities of this globally important area continue to thrive.

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