JUST THE FACTS
Canada’s Boreal Forest
Canada’s boreal region stretches 10,000 continuous kilometers across the country’s breadth — its size rivals even that of the Amazon rain forest! As one of the world’s greatest remaining forests, the boreal provides an important haven for the many creatures
that inhabit its vast canopy, lakes and wetlands.
The bison, North America’s largest land mammal, wanders throughout the northern boreal
while the world’s smallest carnivore, the Least Weasel, finds nests in the region’s
underground. The world’s largest populations of woodland caribou, bears, and wolves
roam this frontier and billions of birds — including warblers, thrushes, ducks, and shorebirds — frequent
this region to court and breed and raise their young. These diverse forests are mostly made
up of coniferous trees, though deciduous trees such as poplar and birch are also found within
the stands that function as one of the world’s largest carbon reservoirs. The boreal
range is also home to hundreds of First Nations communities that rely on the forest’s
resources.
From afar, this rugged green swath of vegetation seems tranquil and untouched; free from
roads, development and human exploitation. Such is not the case. Logging is slowly consuming
vast sections of the forest. Hydropower and mining companies continue to exploit the boreal’s
southern limits while working towards its northern regions. The effects of oil and gas exploration
scar the land with expanding networks of roads and seismic lines. These pressures threaten
the existence of this grand forest and have triggered the need for immediate conservation
efforts.
Canada’s Boreal Forest
Percent of land in Canada covered by boreal forest: 53%
Percent of the world’s boreal forests that lie within Canada’s borders: 25%
Litres of water absorbed and filtered in the boreal forest every day: several million
Percent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water supply found in Canada’s boreal forest:
80%
Number of indigenous communities living in the boreal region: more than 500
Number of lakes distributed throughout the boreal forest: 1.5 million
Boreal Birds
Total number of birds breeding in the boreal region: up to 5 billion
Number of bird species that breed in the boreal forest in Canada: approximately 200
Number of waterfowl species using the boreal forest: 35
Percent of Canada’s bird population that can be found in the boreal regions: 60%
Percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl using the boreal forest: 40%
Boreal Mammals
Animal species include: Caribou, Lynx, Wolverine, Black Bear, Moose, Coyote, Timber Wolf,
Wood Bison, among others
Habitat
Number of tree species in the boreal region: approximately 20
Number of species of fungi growing in boreal forests around the globe: 5,000
Age of the oldest lichen growing in the boreal forest: 100 years
Dominant tree species include: White and Black Spruce, Jack Pine, Tamarack, Balsam Fir,
Balsam Poplar, White Birch, and Trembling Aspen
Water bodies include: bogs, fens, marshes, shallow lakes, rivers, and wetlands
Conservation
Percent of Canada’s boreal forest publicly owned: 94%
Percent of boreal forest that has been allocated to industry: more than 30%
Percent of logging in Canada’s boreal forest that is clearcutting: 90%
Percent of boreal region within a kilometer of a road: 30%
Number of migratory bird nests lost in 2001 due to logging: 85,000
Neil Osborne
Lindsay O’Reilly
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