Canada is now number one in forest degradation. And logging is a major cause.
Even worse is that most of the logging is done in Canada’s virgin forests. With more than 104 million hectares of formerly undisturbed forests degraded around the planet in the last 13 years, Canada outranks even the Amazon and the Congo Basin in destruction.
The third leading cause of Canada’s forest destruction, oil and gas production, is also connected to logging. Large sections of boreal forests are mowed down to make way for tar sands mining, and so far none of Alberta’s altered land has been certified as reclaimed by the government. Both of these major causes, in turn lead to the number one factor in forest degradation - forest fires, driven by climate change.
Gone, perhaps for good, are breeding habitats for nearly 300 species of protected birds and other wildlife, and yet there seems to be an abysmal lack of interest in conserving virgin forests in Canadian politics.
Join Greenpeace in asking Canada to create more protected areas and take other measures to protect their virgin forests from further degradation.
We, the undersigned, find Canada’s lack of concern over the degradation of its virgin forests disturbing.
All three main causes of this degradation are linked to oil and gas production which statistics show cannot solve the planet’s energy needs long term.
Instead of destroying what’s left of the planet’s undisturbed forests, Canada should be promoting wind, solar and other sources of sustainable energy that will cut down on the forest fires and the need for logging as well - addressing all three causes of this destructive and often irreplaceable degradation.
We join Greenpeace in asking that Canada, along with other nations, “take urgent action to stop IFL degradation by creating more protected areas, strengthening the rights of forest communities and other measures that protect intact forests for their economic, social and conservation values.”
Please cut degradation of your virgin forests!
