Forward by Jim Williams Wayzata, Minnesota ---------- > From: Tom Will <[email protected]> > Reply-To: [email protected] > Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 07:42:17 -0500 > To: [email protected] > Subject: New Study on the Importance of the Boreal Forest to Migratory Birds > > This information on the Boreal Songbird Initiative was provided by: > > Marilyn Heiman > Boreal Songbird Initiative > 1823 Warren Ave. N. > Seattle, WA. 98109 > 206-352-8046 > [email protected] > > > New Report Released on the Vital Importance of Canada's Boreal Forest to > North American Bird Life > > One in three birds across North America owes its existence to Canada's > boreal forest. New scientific evidence shows the fate of much of the > continent's bird life depends on the future of this vast northern landscape > ? a future that is now at a cross roads. The evidence is detailed in the > report, The Importance of Canada's Boreal Forest to Landbirds by biologist > Peter Blancher of Bird Studies Canada. The study, based on an > unprecedented compilation of bird census data from across Canada and the > United States, was released on May 10th, International Migratory Bird Day. > > Canada's boreal forest is the annual birthplace of as many as three billion > of North America's warblers, thrushes, sparrows, hawks, woodpeckers and > other land-living birds. It is also the largest intact forested ecosystem > left in the world. The boreal, however, is under increasing pressure from > development. Logging, agricultural conversion, oil and gas exploration and > production, mining, and hydropower development are increasingly fragmenting > the boreal. The U.S. can play a critical role in protecting the boreal. > U.S. consumers purchase much of the pulp and wood products, oil and gas, > and hydropower produced from the boreal. > > Canada's boreal forest offers an unparalleled opportunity to save one of > Earth's most important wilderness treasures. > > The Importance of Canada's Boreal Forest to Landbirds was commissioned by > the U.S.-based Boreal Songbird Initiative and the Canadian Boreal > Initiative. The Boreal Songbird Initiative (BSI) is a new project > dedicated to educating birdwatchers and naturalists throughout the United > States about the importance of the boreal forest to migratory birds and > assisting efforts in Canada to conserve it. To obtain a copy of the report, > or find out more information about the Boreal Forest and birds, go to > www.borealbirds.org or www.borealcanada.ca . >
