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Below you will find a variety of scientific reports and other publications related to Canada's Boreal Forest and the migratory birds that breed there.
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Conservation Value of the North American Boreal Forest from an Ethnobotanical Perspective
There are hundreds of Aboriginal communities in the Canadian Boreal. Indigenous connections to the Boreal landscape go far beyond utilitarian purposes. Specifically, the Boreal has significant ethnobotanical (relationship between people and plants) importance to indigenous people from this region. This ethnobotanical importance along with the collective traditional knowledge that is unique to and intrinsically tied to this region and the rich variety of plants from which this knowledge stems, lend tremendous weight to the significant conservation value of the Boreal region.
Canadian Boreal Initiative, David Suzuki Foundation, and the Boreal Songbird Initiative
Report [PDF] >
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A New Climate for Conservation
Two threats are rapidly emerging: the predicted effects of climate change and widescale loss of biodiversity. These have the potential to hit British Columbia severely, which is home to a unique makeup of wildlife. This report argues conservation is the best approach for addressing both and calls for 50% protection of BC's intact forest ecosystems as the best way to alleviate these threats.
Dr. Jim Pojar and the Working Group on Biodiversity, Forests and Climate
Report [PDF] >
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The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
While you can make a quick dollar by logging a forest or tearing up a wetland in the short-term, it may end up costing you in the long-term. This report finds that the ecological servies (like carbon sequestration, water filtration, pollination, and pest control) of natural ecosystems economically far exceeds the quick profit made through development.
United Nations Environment Programme
Report [PDF] >
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The Carbon the World Forgot: Conserving the Capacity of Canada's Boreal Forest Region to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change
Previous research on forests and climate change underestimated both the amount and depth of carbon stored in boreal forests. In addition, intact boreal forests will be vital for species affected by climate change, particularly species who will be forced to shift ranges. Keeping the boreal forest intact is the best way to prevent the carbon it stores from being released and to ensure species affected by climate change a shot at survival.
Boreal Songbird Initiative and the Canadian Boreal Initiative
Report [PDF] >
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The State of Canada's Rivers at Risk: Environmental Flows and Canada's Freshwater Future
Canada has one of the largest renewable water supplies in the world, but don't let that mislead you. This report by World Wildlife Fund shows that many of Canada's great rivers are under threat from global warming and increasing demand of freshwater resources, including drainage for agriculture, hydroelectric output, and expanding city and industrial use.
World Wildlife Fund
Report [PDF] >
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The State of the Birds: United States of America, 2009
In an unprecedented partnership, government wildlife agencies and conservation groups have come together to produce this first comprehensive analysis of the state of our nation’s birds. The results are sobering: bird populations in many habitats are declining—a warning signal of the failing health of our ecosystems.
U.S. Department of Interior in collaboration with a variety of bird and environmental organizations
Report [PDF] >
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Fish Deformities in the Vicinity of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
In recent years, there has been increasing concern raised by traditional and
commercial fishermen about fish deformities in the vicinity of Fort Chipewyan. Many
fishermen indicate that they are seeing both more kinds of deformities and an increased
frequency of deformities. This report seeks to gather collective information about fish deformities, as well as to to suggest ways for local people to initiate and participate in a program to
monitor fish deformities in the area.
Dr. Kevin Timoney, Treeline Ecological Research
Report [PDF] >
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Birds and Climate Change: Ecological Disruption in Motion
Nearly 60% of the 305 species found in North America in winter are on the move, shifting their ranges northward by an average of 35 miles. Audubon scientists analyzed 40 years of citizen-science Christmas Bird Count data — and their findings provide new and powerful evidence that global warming is having a serious impact on natural systems.
National Audubon Society
Report [PDF] >
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Danger in the Nursery: Impact on Birds of Tar Sands Oil Development in Canada’s Boreal Forest
This report highlights the many ways in which tar sands development directly impacts bird populations. The report finds that millions of birds will be lost from tar sands development, including birds that have shown declines of up to 70% in the last 40 years. Some of the ways bird populations are reduced include tailings pond deaths, habitat loss and fragmentation, air and water pollution, and even industrial noise.
Boreal Songbird Initiative, NRDC, and the Pembina Institute
Report [PDF] >
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Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Project Area Ecosystem Services Valuation Assessment
This study, conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, provides an economic argument for making a World Heritage site out of the Pimachiowin Aki area ecosystem (in Manitoba and Ontario). The study finds that the site has an annual value of $121-130 million when including fishing, hunting, tourism, and carbon storage, among others.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Study [PDF] >
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State of the World's Birds: Indicators for our changing world
A new report by BirdLife International evaluates the current state of birds and their populations around the globe. It finds that bird populations in some places are doing well, but in many instances bird populations are weakening, and that our changing climate is increasingly making it difficult for birds to live and breed.
BirdLife International
Study [PDF] >
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Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks
This study dispels arguments commonly made by government and industry officials that old-growth forests are carbon neutral (some even argue they add carbon to the atmosphere during decomposition). It finds old-growth forests continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmopshere. The authors make a strong recommendation to keep old growth systems intact as a strategy of mitigation.
Nature
Study [PDF] >
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The Economics of Protecting Old Growth Forest: An Analysis of Spotted Owl Habitat in the Fraser Timber Supply Area of British Columbia
Researchers at Simon Fraser University (sponsored by the David Suzuki Foundation) compiled research and ran computer models that helped determine the true value of forests. They found that forests are actually worth much more standing than being logged due to the worth of forests in storing carbon, being used recreationally and providing other natural resources and products other than timber.
David Suzuki Foundation
Report [PDF] >
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Unconventional Oil : Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel?
This report by World Wildlife Fund highlights the environmental devastation going on in the tar sands of northern Alberta. It covers issues such as the destruction of the Boreal Forest, abnormally high emissions for oil extraction, threats to wildlife, and even the health impacts on First Nations communities. It concludes with recommendations for government, oil companies, and investors.
World Wildlife Fund
Report [PDF] >
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Climate Change Enclosed!: Junk Mail's Impact on Global Warming
This clever report by Forest Ethics shows you exactly how much carbon is released to produce junk mail. It then compares this with other equivalent carbon producers - it's the equivalent of driving almost 10 million cars! Nearly 50% of the emissions come from destroying forests and releasing the previously stored carbon.
Forest Ethics
Report [PDF] >
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Provincial Power Play: Breaking Away from Federal Inaction
The David Suzuki foundation keeps up its good work, coming out with a new report analyzing each Canadian province individually in terms of their emissions and plans for reduction. It compares each province and provides recommendations for how each can improve.
David Suzuki Foundation
Report [PDF] >
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Poll: Canadians Overwhelmingly Support Protecting the Boreal
A poll conducted by the Canadian Boreal Initiative between April 29 and May 9, 2008 shows that Canadians strongly support increasing protection of the Boreal Forest. Nine out of ten Canadians said they would like more of the Boreal protected than is protected currently, with the average Canadian believing 67% of the remaining forest should be preserved.
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Poll Summary [PDF] >
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Canada's Toxic Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth
All Canadians are impacted by the Tar Sands, no matter where they live. If you live downstream, your water is being polluted. In Saskatchewan you are a victim of acid rain. In Ontario, you are exposed to harmful emissions from the refining of Tar Sands Oil. And the impacts do not stop at Canada’s border – US refineries are re-tooling to handle the dirty oil from Alberta. With the Tar Sands, Canada has become the world’s dirty energy superpower. The Canadian government gives tax breaks to polluters, fails to enforce its own environmental laws, and is engaging in cover-up about how the Tar Sands have harmed our health and our environment.
Environmental Defence
Report [PDF] >
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Seeking a Balance: Assessing the Future Impacts of Conservation and Development in the Mackenzie Watershed
Growing industrial disturbance will fragment intact areas of Boreal Forest if development continues according to present plans. These changes would eliminate Woodland Caribou populations in the region and would reduce the abundance of songbirds, such as a predicted 60% decline in the Black-throated Green Warbler population.
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Report [PDF] >
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Under-Mining the Environment: The Oil Sands Report Card
The average score of all companies assessed in this report was 33% (out of 100), highlighting the need for substantial improvement in the environmental performance of oil sands mining operations.
WWF-Canada/Pembina Institutue
Report [PDF] >
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A Study of Water and Sediment Quality as Related to Public Health Issues, Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
This independent report examined water and sediment quality indicators in the area of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. It finds that the people and biota of the Athabasca River Delta and western Lake Athabasca are exposed to higher levels of some contaminants than are those upstream. It recommends that further studies be undertaken to address the cause health issues in Fort Chipewyan.
Treeline Ecological Research
Report [PDF] >
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Birding in the United States:
A Demographic and
Economic Analysis
Just how popular is birding in the United States? This report provides up-to-date information so birders and policy makers can make informed decisions regarding the protection of birds and their habitats. This report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are, where they bird and what kinds of birds they watch.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Report [PDF] >
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Freshwater Fish in Ontario's Boreal: Status, Conservation and Potential Impacts of Development
This comprehensive review of freshwater fish conservation issues focuses on the Boreal Forest in Ontario. Find information about the impact that development has on aquatic ecosystems in forests, including habitat conversion, over-fishing and pollution, and mercury contamination. Also find recommendations for ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated in northern Boreal Forest land.
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
Summary [PDF] >
Full report [PDF] >
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Consuming the Boreal Forest: The Chain of Destruction from Logging Companies to Consumers
Canadian, American, and European corporations are fueling the destruction of Canada’s Boreal Forest to create everyday consumer products.
The report names high profile and recognizable customers of logging and pulp companies Kruger, Abitibi-Consolidated, SFK Pulp and Bowater. Rona, Coles/Indigo, Harlequin Books, Time Inc, Best Buy, Sears, Waz Essen and OfficeMax are among the more than thirty five customers named.
Greenpeace
Report [PDF] >
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Driving It Home
The mounting quest for oil alternatives threatens drastic increases in heat-trapping global warming pollution and severe impacts on popular habitats across the United States and Western Canada unless clear safeguards are adopted quickly. The warning comes as lawmakers are facing growing pressure to give huge new subsidies and other incentives to companies involved liquid coal, oil shale and tar sands.
NRDC
Report [PDF] >
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Birds and the Mackenzie Gas Project
Seven Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the Northwest Territories are discussed due to concerns that they could be affected by Mackenzie Gas Project-related activities. This data was presented to Canada's Joint Review Panel as an Intervener Report.
Nature Canada
Report [PDF] >
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Robbing the Carbon Bank: Global Warming and Ontario's Forests
Robbing the Carbon Bank represents the first comprehensive attempt to expose the impacts of logging Ontario’s intact boreal forest on global warming. The report finds, among other startling facts, that Canada’s boreal forests store a whopping 47.5 billion tons of carbon – 7 times the entire world’s fossil fuel emissions – a giant carbon bank account.
Forest Ethics
Report [PDF] >
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Recent Anthropogenic Changes within the Boreal Forests of Ontario and Their Potential Impacts on Woodland Caribou
The results of a survey of logging, road building and other human disturbances in Ontario’s boreal forests reveals that the region is being rapidly impacted by logging and associated roads. The study was undertaken using satellite imagery and analysis.
Global Forest Watch Canada
Report [PDF] >
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The Real Wealth of the Mackenzie Region
The ecological goods and services provided by nature in the Mackenzie watershed region are estimated to be 10 times the total economic value generated by natural capital extraction industries and other activities within the watershed.
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Summary [PDF] >
Full report [PDF] >
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The Birdwatcher's Guide to Global Warming
Recent studies indicate that global warming could affect birds in many ways, shifting their distributions and altering their migration behavior and habitat, and even diminishing their survival ability.
American Bird Conservancy/National Wildlife Federation
Report [PDF] >
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Bird Species and Climate Change
A synthesis of current scientific understanding of anthropogenic climate change impacts on global bird species now, and projected future effects.
World Wildlife Foundation/Climate Risk
Summary [PDF] >
Full report [PDF] >
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Oil Sands Fever: The Environmental Implications of Canada's Oil Sands Rush
Alberta is now Canada's pollution capital for industrial air pollutants. And the oil sands are the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions growth in Canada. A more positive future is possible.
The Pembina Institute
Full report [PDF] >
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2° is Too Much! Implications of Global Warming for Canada's Water Resources
Canada has a precious liquid treasure that we cannot afford to squander. It is not too late. We can still avoid dangerous impacts from global warming if serious, immediate, and sustained action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sage Center/World Wildlife Fund Canada
Overview brochure [PDF] >
Full report [PDF] >
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Counting Canada's Natural Capital: Assessing the Real Value of Canada's Boreal Ecosystems
The economic value of the non-market services provided by the Boreal region is over two times greater than the net market value of resource extraction activities. The value of the current total carbon stored in Canada's Boreal is estimated at $3.7 trillion.
The Pembina Institute
Full report [PDF] >
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The Boreal Forest Region: North America's Bird Nursery
The Boreal Forest Region is vital to the abundance of bird life in the U.S. and Canada. Nearly half of all North American birds (325 species) rely on the Boreal, and over 300 of those species regularly breed there.
Bird Studies Canada/Boreal Songbird Initiative
Full report [PDF] >
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The Importance of the Christmas Bird Count to Our Understanding of Boreal Bird Populations
In the United States, winter bird communities
are often overwhelmingly
made up of Boreal bird species. On
many CBCs, Boreal birds make up
50-90 percent of the species tallied, even in the southern United
States.
Boreal Songbird Initiative
Full report [PDF] >
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The Boreal in the Balance: Securing The Future of Canada's Boreal Region
Canada's Boreal region offers a tremendous opportunity for conservation at a large scale, but there is a diminishing window of time to plan for conservation solutions.
Candian Boreal Initiative
Full report [PDF] >
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Boreal Futures: Governance, Conservation and Development in Canada's Boreal: State of the Debate
This report examines the state of the boreal region today, and makes recommendations to achieve sustainability in this nationally – and globally – significant region.
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE)
Full report [PDF] >
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Canada's Large Intact Forest Landscapes
Intact forest landscapes are becoming increasingly rare at the global level, due in large part to their vulnerability to the effects of large-scale human interventions – effects that are not easily or quickly reversed.
Global Forest Watch
Executive summary [PDF] >
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Canada's Boreal Forest: Vital to North American Bird Life
The fate of much of the continent's bird life depends on the future of the Boreal Forest.
Canadian Boreal Initiative/Boreal Songbird Initiative
Full report [PDF] >
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State of the Birds: USA: 2004
How are our nation's birds really faring? Audubon's science team has pooled the best data available since Silent Spring to report on their overall health. Depending on the habitat in which they live, they could be flying high or sinking fast.
National Audubon Society
Full report [web link] >
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Bringing Down
The Boreal: How U.S. Consumption of Forest Products is Destroying
Canada's Endangered Northern Forests
The logging of the Boreal Forest has a surprisingly strong connection to the United States. The United States is the primary market for Canadian Boreal Forest products.
Forest Ethics
Full report [PDF] >
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Through
the Trees: The Truth Behind Logging in Canada
Unchecked industrial development will degrade forest ecosystems and lead to species extinction and declines in ecosystem functioning.
Greenpeace/National Resources Defense Council/Forest Ethics
Full report
[PDF] >
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Importance of Canada's Boreal Forest to Landbirds
This report illustrates just how important the boreal forest is to landbirds across North America, the Western Hemisphere and globally, by examining broad patterns in their population sizes, trends and links to wintering grounds.
Bird Studies Canada
Executive summary [PDF] >
Full report [PDF] >
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America's Gas Tank: The High Cost of Canada's Oil and Export Strategy
Canada, not Saudi Arabia, is the single largest supplier of oil and gas to the United States. This report shows that United States demand for fossil fuels is destroying Canadian air, land, and water resources.
NRDC/Sierra Club of Canada
Full report [PDF] >
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Ecological Sustainability of Birds in Boreal Forests
This paper focuses on boreal bird populations as one aspect of the Boreal system to be sustained, and also on the role birds play in sustaining the Boreal system.
The Resiliance Alliance
Paper [web link] >
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Resolution Supporting Protection of the Boreal Forest
This resolution is regarding protection of bird habitat in North America's Boreal Forest.
American Bird Conservancy Policy Council
Resolution text [web link] >
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Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Resolution
This resolution is in support of $100 million in funding for the Neotripical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and supporting changes to enhance bird conservation.
American Bird Conservancy Policy Council
Resolution text [web link] >
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