Boreal Facts

Where is Canada’s Boreal Forest?

The boreal forest wraps the entire northern hemisphere like a green cloak, spanning some 12,000 kilometres – nearly 11 per cent of our planet's total surface. Canada's portion makes up one of the largest intact forests left on earth.

Even though industrial development is outpacing conservation in many southern parts of Canada, the northern boreal forest is still one of the largest intact ecosystems left on the planet. About 70 percent remains in a natural state, 30 percent is tenured for industrial uses, and 10 percent is protected. About 13% of Yukon land is protected, which is far short of the 50 percent protection goal recommended by scientists and conservation organizations such as the Canadian Boreal Initiative and CPAWS.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Boreal Program is helping protect Canada’s boreal forests from coast to coast.

To learn more about CPAWS-Yukon’s initiatives to protect the boreal region, check out the Boreal Region page in the section on Our Conservation Work.

To learn more about the overall CPAWS Boreal Campaign, check out the CPAWS National Web site at www.cpaws.org/programs/boreal.