          
DID YOU KNOW...Boreal ecosystems contain the largest expanse of freshwater in the world; more than 80 per cent of the world's liquid freshwater is found in the Boreal |
Media CentrePress Releases2006Leading North American Companies Urge Protection of Canada's Boreal Forest"More and more companies want the Boreal to be a place with a truly sustainable future: ecologically, culturally and economically," they say. September 22, 2006 - Ottawa To mark the start of the National Forest Congress, which begins in Ottawa on Monday, over 60 companies from across North America announced their support today for the Boreal Conservation Framework - a balanced vision for conservation and sustainable development in Canada's Boreal forest. "A broad range of companies from outdoor adventure companies --including Mountain Equipment Co-op, Patagonia, JanSport and Lonely Planet - to paper companies such as Seventh Generation, recognize the real economic importance of the boreal forest, "says Mike Martel, chairman of the Boreal Leadership Council (BLC), a group of leading companies, Aboriginal organizations and conservation groups, who jointly support the implementation of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework vision in Canada. Martel, who is also Senior VP Forest Resource Management at Tembec Inc., adds, "In the last two months, we've really seen the momentum build, with more and more companies stepping forward to be part of a solutions-based balanced vision to keep Canada's Boreal forest a place with a truly sustainable future ecologically, culturally and economically." Canada's Boreal forest spans over half of Canada, and is home to over 600 Aboriginal communities. It provides vital habitat for some of the planet's largest populations of woodland caribou, wolves, lynx and grizzly bears. It is the breeding ground for billions of North America's birds, has huge populations of waterfowl, and is essential to the survival of over half of North America's bird species. Canada's Boreal forest represents over 25% of the remaining intact forest on the planet. The Boreal contains internationally important wetlands and is the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon, making it one of the world's best defenses against global climate change. Jeffrey Hollender, President and CEO of Seventh Generation, one of the recent Framework supporters explains, "The Boreal Framework's vision to protect at least 50% of the Boreal forest is one that we wholeheartedly embrace and are committed to supporting through sourcing and selling ecologically responsible products." Other companies, including outdoor companies like Canada's largest supplier of quality outdoor equipment Mountain Equipment Co-op, recognize the importance of the Boreal forest as an outdoor North American treasure that provides active outdoor experiences for all Canadians and millions of tourists who visit Canada. "Canadians value our natural heritage and support conservation. Our company is proud to be at the forefront of a visionary solution to conserve Canada's Boreal forest and ensure that Canada takes our rightful place as a world leader in sustainability," said Peter Robinson, CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op. "Canada is one of the only countries in the world that still has an opportunity to get it right, to protect our Boreal forest and ensure a sustainable conservation based economy," said Tzeporah Berman, Program Director of ForestEthics. "We encourage other companies and governments to follow the lead of these progressive companies and work together to support the Canadian Boreal Framework and ensure that this vision becomes a reality." The Boreal Conservation Framework was developed by the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI) an independent organization working with leading conservation organizations, resource development companies and First Nations across Canada. "Our goal is to sustain the ecological and cultural values of Canada's Boreal region by advancing collaborative solutions, such as land use planning prior to development, and leading edge industrial practices like the Forest Stewardship Council certification, that will reduce uncertainties for business while improving opportunities for Aboriginal and local communities to determine their own future," stated Larry Innes, the interim Director of the CBI. For more information about the Boreal Conservation Framework and a complete list of companies and organizations that support the Framework go to www.borealcanada.ca. Related Backgrounders
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