MJ Deschamps
May 12, 2009

While thousands of birds are flocking to the north during spring migration, groups across Canada delivered 60,000 signatures to Parliament Hill yesterday morning, calling for increased protection of Canada's Boreal forest.

In Ottawa, citizen petitions were delivered at a press conference on Parliament Hill.

"Ottawa has supported protecting over 30 million acres in the Northwest Territories in the past two years, which is an outstanding downpayment for nature," said Boreal Songbird Initiative's Dr. Jeff Wells in a press release.

The Boreal forest is the breeding and nesting ground for billions of migratory birds. But each year, the forest is destroyed by unchecked oil and gas, mining, logging and hydro development.

Petitioners are asking that the Canadian government adopt the principles of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, which calls for protecting 50 per cent of the Boreal forest and supporting sustainable development practices in the remaining parts.

"We're hoping that both provincial and federal governments will see this public expression of support as an indication to take serious action," said Chris Sutton, communications manager at Nature Canada.