          
DID YOU KNOW...30 per cent of the Canadian Boreal is covered by wetlands, an estimated 1.5 million lakes and some of the country's largest river systems |
Media CentrePress Releases2007Canadian Boreal Initiative Applauds Federal Government for Advancing Expansion of Nahanni National Park ReserveAugust 8, 2007 - Fort Simpson The Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) congratulates the Government of Canada on today's announcement for dedicating an additional 5,400 square kilometers towards the Nahanni National Park Reserve and securing further protection for the South Nahanni watershed. We commend the Prime Minister, Minister Baird, the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories for their decisive action. "This is a major step towards expanding the Nahanni National Park Reserve - a Canadian icon, world renowned national park and World Heritage Site in the Northwest Territories' Boreal Forest", said Larry Innes, CBI's Executive Director. "This is a welcome follow up to the federal Budget investment in the protected areas in the North and we look forward to celebrating other sites in the coming months. " This announcement follows on the commitment made by Canada in January 2007 to permanently protect the entire South Nahanni Watershed and Nahanni karstlands in an expanded national park. "Securing protection for special places like the Nahanni is part of what Canadians want our governments to achieve", continued Innes. "Today's announcement reinforces the importance that all parties place on balancing conservation with economic development to protect and strengthen the North, and we are proud to be actively supporting those goals." The work between governments, First Nations, conservation organizations, and stakeholders to secure protection for a suite of important ecological and cultural areas identified in the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy, national park proposals and regional land use plans is ongoing. Protection is actively being sought for Ramparts River and wetlands (Ts'ude niline Tu'eyeta) near Fort Good Hope, the Thaydene Nene/East Arm region of the Great Slave Lake near Lutsel'ke, and for additional areas identified in the draft Dehcho and Sahtu land use plans. Based in Ottawa, the Canadian Boreal Initiative is a convener bringing together partners including governments, industry, First Nations, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions and scientists to create new solutions for the conservation and sustainable development of the Boreal Forest. Related Backgrounders
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