The first ecozone we will investigate is the Boreal Forest. The Boreal forest is Canada?s largest ecozone accounting for about 60% of Canadas massive landmass. It is a vast ecological sanctuary sometimes referred to as the Amazon of the North?. It forms the backbone of Canada?s ecological wonders. However, like most places on Earth it is damaged by human influence. So, let?s explore this ecological jewel in hope that spreading awareness about its importance will help revive the Boreal Forest.

The Boreal Forest is Canada?s largest ecozone. Spanning the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador to the northern reaches of the Yukon Territory, the Boreal Forest is a place where wildlife can thrive. Many species have adapted to make the Boreal Forest home. For example it is estimated the Boreal forest is a sanctuary to birds. There are over 5 billion birds that make this forest their home. The total bird population of the forest composes about 30% of the total North American bird population. It is also home the iconic species of Canada such as the black bear, woodland caribou, wolverine, and our national animal: the beaver. The caribou and the wolverine are considered to be endangered as well. This explores the importance of the Boreal Forest as home to not only iconic but also endangered species. The caribou for example has a vital function within the local ecosystem. It is the primary food source for the grey wolf. If caribou populations were to decline, so would the grey wolf.

The Boreal Forest also has a unique landscape. It contains mostly coniferous trees which have become adapted to the seasonal cycles of extreme cold in winter and warm in summer. These trees not only provide photosynthesis but also provide a home to the many birds of the region. The trees also provide a thick cover for prey to hide from predators. Without this cover, they would move to another part of the forest with thick tree cover, leaving behind a disturbed ecosystem. The Boreal Forest also contains many wetlands such as swamps and marshes. These wetlands act serve the function of carbon sequestration. They absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and capture. About 14% of the world?s carbon sequestration is done through swamps and marshes. Therefore, this unique landscape is not only an ecological wonder but also plays a vital environmental role.

Lastly, the Boreal Forest is home to 4 million Canadians. This is a relatively low number for such a large land mass. Over 3 million square kilometers are left untouched in this ecozone. Since the forest is intact, it has come in the interest of environmentalist around the world as a chance to save one of the largest forests in the world. This type of hope is not possible in many other forests around the world. However, the Boreal Forest is now threatened. Its vast landscape home to billions of trees has been undergoing logging and deforestation. This deforestation causes not only the vital environmental role to of the forest to deteriorate but also the habitat to be destructed for the many animals that call the ecozone home. Also, road building in the region to accomplish logging activates disturbs the forest even further.

In conclusion, the Boreal forest is a very vital jewel to not only Canada but also the world. It is the hope of many people to sustain a healthy forest which will provide benefits for generations to come. So, lets make sure that we help sustain the Boreal Forest?sustain the hope of maintaining one of the few undisturbed forest

photo courtesy: greenpeace.org and cgf3m-2albertaoilsands.wikispaces.com