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June 2015

Vol. 43, No. 3

Covering the Boreal Zone

The Bird Community E-Bulletin April 2015

Last May, the Boreal Songbird Initiative and Ducks Unlimited released a publication, “Boreal Birds Need Half: Maintaining North America’s Bird Nursery and Why it Matters.”

In mid-March, both organizations launched a related and parallel campaign, backed by leading bird and conservation groups across Canada and including Alaska. This effort, for the first time, describes the conservation benchmarks necessary to ensure that the boreal forest continues to be an important North American bird nursery.

The campaign advances the idea that at least half of the boreal forest region must be protected and remain free of large-scale industrial disturbance. That level of protection is necessary to maintain healthy populations of the full spectrum of bird species and other wildlife inhabiting the North American boreal forest. Moreover, that area of the boreal that is developed should be carried out with the highest global sustainability standards, with special emphasis on maintaining healthy and pristine wetlands and waterways. Additionally, both protected areas and industrial activities should proceed only with the free, prior, and informed consent of affected native communities.

The press release, a media backgrounder, expert contact information, and supporting photos, maps, and graphics can all be found at www.borealbirds.org/announcements/boreal-birds-need-half-campaign.

The main campaign website is at www.borealbirdsneedhalf.org, along with the original report from last year. It also allows individuals, groups and businesses to add their endorsement.

To review details on dozens of IBA sites in the boreal in Canada, see www.ibacanada.ca/explore_how.jsp?lang=EN and those in Alaska at ak.audubon.org/important-bird-areas-4.


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