加拿大安大略省省長麥堅迪（Dalton McGuinty）14日宣佈的新保育計劃，將安大略省境內半數的北方森林列入保護，免於無止盡的資源開發破壞，這些樹木也能繼續對抗全球暖化。
在北方保育計劃方案中，安大略省政府將會把北方林地的保育範圍擴大到至少22萬5千平方公里（86,872平方英里），麥堅迪省長表示，這樣的面積幾乎已經是英國國土的2倍。
保育區內將允許進行採礦及伐木，但前提是遵守嚴格的規定，並取得當地原住民部落的同意。北方森林區域內的山林管理和新礦區的動工，也需要出示當地原住民部落所背書的土地使用計劃。
麥堅迪省長辦公室所發表的聲明中指出，針對這些區域進行保育，將可有效維護安大略省的生物多樣性。仍舊處於野生原始狀態的安大略北方森林區域，是超過200種動物物種的棲息地，例如北極熊、狼獾和北美馴鹿，其中許多物種已面臨絕種的危機。
這些森林在地球上扮演著相當重要的碳吸收角色，因此長期的保育計劃將有助於全球對抗氣候變遷效應。
安大略省政府表示，對此地區的保護工作是該省對抗氣候變遷的重點；北方森林中的樹木和泥炭地貯存了約970億公噸的二氧化碳，且每年吸收約1250萬公噸的二氧化碳。
2007年一份針對安大略北方森林內伐木、築路工程和其他人為干擾活動所進行的調查，透過加拿大全球森林監測機制的衛星畫面，呈現了林地轉變為伐木及築路工地的快速變化。
調查結果也顯示，瀕危加拿大馴鹿生存所需的完整森林棲息地已遭到破壞。
Half of Ontario's northern boreal forests will be protected from unbridled resource development so these trees can continue to fight global warming, under a conservation plan announced today by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The government of Ontario will extend permanent protection to at least 225,000 square kilometers (86,872 square miles) of the Far North Boreal region under its Far North Planning Initiative, the premier said - an area almost twice the size of England.
Mining and logging will be permitted in the protected area, but only under stricter regulations and providing that local Aboriginal communities approve.
New forestry and the opening of new mines in the Far North would require community land use plans supported by local Aboriginal communities.
Preserving these spaces will help ensure Ontario's biodiversity, said the premier's office in its statement. Still wild, Ontario's northern boreal region is inhabited by more than 200 species of animals such as polar bears, wolverines, and caribou - many of which are threatened or endangered.
Permanently protecting these lands will help a world wrestling with the effects of climate change, as they are a globally significant carbon sink.
The Ontario government says protecting this region is key to its plan to fight climate change. The forests and peat lands in the Far North store about 97 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and absorb around 12.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the government said.
A 2007 survey of logging, road building and other human disturbances in Ontario's northern forests conducted by Global Forest Watch Canada using satellite imagery showed the rapid conversion of forestlands to logging and road building.
The intact forest habitat required by the threatened woodland caribou is being destroyed, the survey showed.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
