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You Are Here: What We Do Protecting Forests Protecting the Canadian Boreal Protect one of the Boreal Forests

sts Last Great Intact Areas: Qubecs Broadback Valley


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Protect one of the Boreal Forests Last Great Intact
Areas: Qubecs Broadback Valley
The Broadback Forest is one of the last large wilderness areas remaining in
Quebecs Boreal Forest. A thriving ecosystem of lakes, rivers and old growth spruce
and pine forests, the Broadback covers more than 13,000 km2 (3.2 million acres).
Home to First Nations communities, threatened caribou herds and numerous forest-
dependent species, the Broadback could be described as the last frontier of intact
boreal forest in the province.
The Broadback offers an unprecedented opportunity for protection in Quebecs
Boreal Forest. Powerful interests have aligned in support of conservation, with
remarkable cohesion between typically divergent parties. The Cree Nations,
supported by their regional governance body, have prioritized the area for
conservation. Most logging companies in the region have agreed to a temporary
deferral on industrial activity. Environmental organizations, scientists and economic
stakeholders have voiced their support for action to secure a healthy future for the
Broadback. The government of Quebec is currently assessing the shortcomings of
its protected area networks and the pressing need for action to sustain threatened
The forest Canopy is becoming a hit in the fashion
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Today, the worlds two largest clothing brands are
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H&M and Zara/Inditex, developed these new
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caribou herds. Right now, there is a unique window of opportunity to act for the
forest and for future generations.
It is imperative that the Government of Qubec seize this remarkable opportunity and
legislate the Broadback as a protected area by spring 2014.
What makes the Broadback so rich, so valuable ?
The cultural heritage of First Nations communities
Hunting, fishing and trapping remain at the core of the Cree way of life and are still
supported by the health and abundance of the Broadback Forest ecosystem. To
sustain these important cultural values, the Grand Council of the Crees are proposing
both a new approach to forest management for the entire Broadback watershed, the
traditional territory of several Cree First Nations, and legislated protection of an area
totalling 13,000km
2
. Learn more about the Crees unified approach to conserve the
Broadback.
Habitat for threatened species
The Broadback Forest is home of woodland caribou herds as well as other severely
endangered species, such as Golden and Bald Eagles. To protect Woodland caribou
populations, large protected areas need to be created in Quebecs Boreal. Currently
there are none. A joint study by Quebecs Ministry of Natural Resources and the Cree
Regional Authority confirmed two caribou herds in the region are no longer self-
sustaining. This means they are on the brink of extirpation. Action now to conserve
the Broadback would secure the best quality habitat in the commercial forestry zone
and ensure connectivity between local caribou populations a factor essential to
their long-term survival.
A significant carbon storehouse
The old growth trees, bogs and soil in the Broadbacks intact landscape absorb
tonnes of greenhouse gases, help mitigate climate change and serve as a critical
carbon storehouse. Scientific studies indicate soil disturbance resulting from road-
building and logging can release stored carbon into the atmosphere, adding to the
burden of greenhouse gases.
Intact forest are becoming rare
Intact old growth and virgin forests are rapidly vanishing in Qubecs Boreal Forest.
Only 5.1% of the territory south of the 52
nd
parallel (the current northern limit of
economically valuable forests) is protected and over 90% of the provinces
commercially viable and ecologically rich forests have already been logged. This
makes the remaining 10% of intact (virgin) forests left in the provinces commercial
forest region rare and of tremendous ecological value. Protecting significant tracts of
*
these intact forests that remain is of critical importance for the species that rely on
them and ecological services they provide.
Broadback protection, a scientifically valid solution
In a report commissioned by Quebecs Ministry of Natural Resources, a team of
scientific experts pulled no punches in recommending major expansion to the
provinces network of protected areas.
The in-depth study on the status of threatened woodland caribou was frank in its
conclusion that three populations of Quebecs caribou (Assinica, Nottaway and
Temiscamie) have reached a tipping point. The scientific evidence effectively
supports the Cree First Nations strong call for protection of 13,000km
2
of the rich
and ecologically critical Boreal Forest of the Broadback forest.
To facilitate population recovery we recommend avoiding further development within
areas known or presumed to be occupied by woodland caribou states the report by
Quebecs Caribou Scientific Task Force. Consult the science report here.
Moreover, the Quebec government evaluated the performance of its own protected
area network in 2010 and acknowledged that major improvements are necessary. In
fact, the study concluded that it is necessary to create large protected areas (of at
least 10,000 km2 each) if we are to address the needs of species that require large
habitat range, climate change or old growth forest representation. Read the
performance analysis here.
The next step in securing a long-term solution for the Broadback
A remarkable opportunity to secure a future for Woodland Caribou and for Quebecs
last vast Boreal wilderness area is coming to the fore in la Belle Province. Because
most forests in Quebec are publicly owned, the provincial government is the final
decision maker, responsible for legislating protected areas and long-term solutions.
Conservation of the Broadback Forest has garnered an unprecedented level of social
and economic support. First Nations, whose traditional territory is at stake, are
strongly advocating for a comprehensive protected area. Solid science supports this
action. A wide range of stakeholders are backing protection of the Broadback. This
coalescing of diverse interests presents a rare opportunity the Quebec government
must seize.
We urge the government to act to protect 13 000km2 of magnificent Broadback
Forest. (That is 10 000km2 on top of the 3000km2 already protected through the
Assinica Cree Heritage Park) All the conditions for success are aligned; the only
piece not yet in place is political action.
If you are a major lumber or paper purchaser, contact Canopy to learn how you can
help secure a future for the Broadback Forest.
Protecting the Broadback The Timeline
July 2013- The Broadback Forest is profiled in Canopys marketplace update, sent to
more then 700 companies in North America.
June 2013 Large paper purchasers voice their support for Broadback conservation
directly to the Quebec Ministers involved.
May 2013 Most logging companies with wood allocations in the Broadback renew
their commitment to respect the protected area proposals and continue the informal
moratorium.
May 2013 - An innovative crossword puzzle ad is published by Canopy in the Globe
and Mail. Protection of the Broadback is one of the solutions. View here.
April 2013 The Grand Council of the Crees proposes a new watershed
management approach to conserving the Broadback Forest.
April 2013 Canopy Applauds Conservation Vision of the Cree Grand Council for
the Broadback Forest and suggests that government approval is the only step
missing.
November 2012 The Woodland Caribou Recovery Task Force Scientific Advisory
Group publishes a report on the status of Woodland caribou in the James Bay region
of Northern Quebec.
January 2012 - The Broadback seduction, a public and ad campaign by Canopy
is published in the Metro Montreal newspaper and highlights the sad case of a forest
whose calls for protection remain unanswered.
December 2011 - Canopy meets with the Quebec government jointly with other
environmental organizations, the Crees of Waswanipi and logging companies to
discuss conservation in the Broadback region.
June 2011- Eight logging companies with wood allocations in, or sourcing fiber
from, the Broadback region commit not to log in the Broadback proposed protected
areas.
May 2011 - Louis Hamelin, well known Quebec author, receives an honor called
Prix des Libraires and calls for Broadback Forest protection.
May 2011 The Quebec government legislates the Assinica Cree Cultural
Heritage Park Reserve, totaling 3,193 km
2
within Quebecs Boreal Forest.
March 2010 - Canopy and environmental allies secure temporary logging
moratoriums from large forestry companies operating in the Broadback.
December 2009 A call to action to protect the Broadback forest is made to the
global forest product marketplace and to the Quebec government. Canopy is raising
awareness amongst its partners.
2008-2010 Cree First Nation communities of Ouj-Bougoumou, Waswanipi and
Nemaska start a process whereby they make proposals for protected areas to the
Quebec government.
Photo credit: Bill Patterson
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