The Lungs of the North
Spanning over 55 million hectares across Northern Ontario, the boreal forest is one of the largest intact forest ecosystems on Earth. This immense landscape, often called the "lungs of the North," is a mosaic of coniferous forests, wetlands, lakes, and rivers. It is a world defined by resilience, where life has adapted to long, harsh winters and short, vibrant summers. From the deep green of black spruce stands to the shimmering gold of autumn larches, the boreal is a dynamic and essential part of Canada's natural identity.
More than just a collection of trees, this ecosystem plays a globally significant role in climate regulation. Its soils, peatlands, and wetlands store vast amounts of carbon—far more per hectare than tropical rainforests. The protection of Ontario's boreal forest is therefore not just a regional concern but a global imperative. Our work here focuses on documenting its immense biodiversity, understanding the impacts of industrial activity, and supporting efforts to preserve its old-growth stands and vital wildlife corridors.
A Sanctuary for Iconic Wildlife
The boreal forest is a sanctuary for some of Canada's most iconic species. It is the realm of the elusive woodland caribou, whose survival is intrinsically linked to the health of mature lichen-rich forests. The howls of grey wolves echo through its valleys, while the powerful presence of the black bear and moose defines its character. The forest's abundant waterways are home to beaver, muskrat, and river otter, whose engineering feats shape the landscape itself. Overhead, the skies are a migratory superhighway for billions of songbirds that travel from as far as South America to breed in the boreal's brief but bountiful summer.
Our documentation efforts include cataloging over 200 bird species, tracking the movements of large mammals, and surveying the health of aquatic ecosystems. We utilize camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and eDNA sampling to build a comprehensive picture of life in the forest, providing crucial data for conservation planning and species-at-risk assessments.
Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)
Status: Threatened. Requires large, undisturbed areas of mature forest with abundant ground-dwelling lichens. Highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation from roads and industrial development. Our tracking shows their range is continually shrinking northward.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
A keystone species of the boreal. Its ability to grow in waterlogged, nutrient-poor soil and regenerate after fire makes it the dominant tree in much of the region. Its dense canopy provides critical thermal cover for animals in winter.
Balancing Economy and Ecology
Ontario's boreal region faces significant pressures from resource extraction, including forestry, mining, and energy development. While these industries are important to the provincial economy, their expansion poses a direct threat to the ecological integrity of the forest. Habitat fragmentation from logging cut-blocks and access roads isolates wildlife populations, while mining activities can impact water quality across entire watersheds. Furthermore, climate change is exacerbating these threats, increasing the frequency and intensity of forest fires and altering the very composition of the forest.
Our role is to provide objective, science-based documentation of these impacts. By comparing aerial imagery over time, we can quantify the rate of deforestation and habitat loss. By monitoring water chemistry downstream from industrial sites, we provide baseline data for environmental assessments. This information is vital for informing land-use planning, advocating for the establishment of protected areas, and ensuring that development, when it occurs, proceeds in the most sustainable manner possible.