 |
The Boreal Forest as seen in NASA satellite imagery
| WHAT and WHERE IS THE BOREAL FOREST? This question is one that is not easily answered. For one thing we face the problem of making human delineations of a natural system that seamlessly morphs into the "ecozones" surrounding it. For another there is no clear and simple definition of the Boreal Forest (also just for fun called "Taiga" which is borrowed from the Russians who have a lot of it). A consensus revolves around "circumpolar conifer forest" with generally thin soils over glaciated bedrock. Being northern, severe winters and relatively cool summers (though temperature extremes are dramatic)are typical and wetlands abound due to generally poor drainage and low evaporation. However, from there opinions as to what is Boreal Forest obviously vary as a brief overview of maps from different sources will reveal. Some maps remarkably show the North American forest obediently following the US/Canadian border while others have it going as far south as California and Virginia along mountain ranges. The maps on this page will hopefully provide a happy medium and are compiled from a variety of sources including a floral zone map from the University of Tennessee (http://fp.bio.utk.edu/botany120lect/Biomes/biomemap.htm provided by botanist Dr. Jim Vogelmann), NASA satellite imagery and the experience of WREAF members (which so far is limited to North America). |
Innu tent ring at Sand Point on the
George River Photo by Gary McGuffin
George River Photo by Gary McGuffin
Click on the migration map for a link
to an interactive bird migration map
from the Boreal Songbird Initiative
to an interactive bird migration map
from the Boreal Songbird Initiative
| Designated in 2006 on International Migratory Bird Day as the " Bird Nursery of the North" |
| First Nations |
| C & O and CO2 (ATMOSPHERE & GLOBAL CLIMATE) |
| Lions, Tigers and Bears |
| Timber, Toilet Paper Catalogs, Catapillars Diamonds & Dams |
| Schrooms |
| The Human Spirit |
| HOW and WHY is the BOREAL FOREST IMPORTANT? Even absent a consensus definition, the Boreal Forest, as can be easily imagined from the polar view above, is the largest terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. Flying into the George River we could see the way the forest breaks into a mosaic and melds into the tundra. The two combine into a northern wilderness of a truly vast aspect and yet even so are not beyond the devastating reach of our consumptive appetites. Critical for climate moderation, liquid fresh water, indigenous cultures, wildlife, birds, diversity and the human spirit, the Boreal is also, however, a rich source of needed resources of pulp, timber, minerals and energy. However, our rapacious extraction of these resources threatens to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs: |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |