We are very pleased to present our report entitled Canada’s Heart of the Boreal.  Our report looks at the complex and varied needs of ecosystems and communities in the region, and includes some case studies of First Nations’ community experiences, both good and bad.

The article I’m most proud of is entitled ‘Action Needed to Keep the Heart Healthy’. We’ve laid out the decision-making considerations and the tools that will make the Heart of the Boreal protected areas initiative a global example of healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.

In the 1970s, when I was a little kid, I used to wander in the woods of the Heart of the Boreal. For me it was a place to marvel at the waterways and wildlife, and to glimpse an ancient civilization hinted at in the rare pottery and arrowheads found on the beaches. At the time, few people could have guessed this would eventually be recognized as the largest intact forest left on Earth. Now, with all the supporters and members of the Wilderness Committee, I have the privilege of working to ensure this wilderness stays wild and that these remote communities stay healthy. I take this responsibility very seriously.

But it’s not just people from Manitoba and Ontario who stand to benefit from the protection of this area. Just about everyone who visits this area, regardless of where they call home, remarks on how exceptional it is. Many visitors make a point of returning when they can, while others continue to support our conservation work long after they return home.

The responsibility to protect the Heart of the Boreal belongs to all Canadians. We should also see it as a glorious opportunity: we can be part of preserving an unparalleled natural treasure.

I am writing you today to ask for your help to spread the word about Canada’s Heart of the Boreal in your community. Email us at emma@wildernesscommittee.org and let us know how many education reports you can leave at local coffee shops, your doctor's office or community recreation centre. And please do remind us of your mailing address -- we'll mail you out a bunch right away.

Together, we can keep the Heart of the Boreal healthy and intact for future generations.
For the wild,

Eric Reder | Manitoba Campaign Director
Wilderness Committee