加拿大環保團體與該國林產協會(Forest Products Association of Canada) 18日同意以最高的環境標準，共同管理一大片北方森林。此項「加拿大原生森林協議」(Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement)，昭示了傳統上彼此敵對的兩方將要攜手合作。
林產協會有21個會員企業，所管理的林地是加國所有認證林地面積的三分之二。而依據這項協議，林產協會的公司會員承諾，對於從加國西岸卑詩省至東岸 紐芬蘭、拉布拉多省、7200萬公頃授權會員利用的公有林地，會以森林管理中的最高環境標準，來進行管理。
簽約的9個保育團體則承諾將爭取全球認可此協議，並支持林產協會會員的付出。此協議執行期間，樹冠組織(Canopy)、森林倫理 (ForestEthics)與綠色和平組織發起的「勿購買」行動(Do Not Buy)，則將暫停。
北方森林中，將近2900萬公頃的林地將暫停新伐木計畫，為瀕危的北美森林馴鹿推展保育計畫，同時間還要維持必要的紙漿供應，不讓工廠作業停擺。
「這是我們拯救森林馴鹿、永久保護廣衾北方森林，並制訂永續林業政策的最佳時機。」綠色和平加拿大分會森林行動的專員布魯克斯(Richard Brooks)說道，他是此協議參與環保組織的發言人。
「大眾與市場對於野生保育和物種消失的關心，一直是促成此協議的重要推手。」布魯克斯說：「我們有很多的工作要攜手去做，要讓此協議獲致成功，而我 們承諾會做到。」
這項協議是一份三年期的藍圖，擁有機制可允許未來擴充。為使保育工作步上軌道並往前邁進，簽署各方設置了一連串的時間表與目標。這些時程基準隨著該 協議的執行情況，將定期由共同選定的獨立審計公司進行審計，並會將報告公開。
加拿大北方森林約覆蓋整個北半球極圈寒帶森林的三分之一。原生的北方森林樹種包括黑雲杉、白雲杉、香膠冷杉、落葉松、黑松、加拿大短葉松、三角葉 楊、白楊、白樺與香脂白楊。
加拿大北方森林估計庇護著50億隻陸鳥，包括留鳥與候鳥的種類，還涵蓋著世界所有生態系中面積最大的溼地區。
In a deal that marks the coming together of two traditional adversaries, environmental groups and the member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada today agreed to manage a broad swath of northern boreal forest to the highest environmental standards.
Under the agreement, the 21 FPAC member companies, who manage two-thirds of all certified forest land in Canada, commit to the highest environmental standards of forest management within 72 million hectares (277,993 square miles) of public forests licensed to FPAC members from British Columbia in the west to Newfoundland and Labrador in eastern Canada.
Nine conservation groups commit to global recognition and support for FPAC member efforts. "Do Not Buy" campaigns by the groups Canopy, ForestEthics and Greenpeace will be suspended while the agreement is being implemented.
New logging will be suspended on nearly 29 million hectares (111,969 square miles) of boreal forest to develop conservation plans for threatened woodland caribou, while maintaining essential fiber supplies for uninterrupted mill operations.
"This is our best chance to save woodland caribou, permanently protect vast areas of the Boreal Forest and put in place sustainable forestry practices," said Richard Brooks, spokesperson for participating environmental organizations and Forest Campaign coordinator of Greenpeace Canada.
"Concerns from the public and the marketplace about wilderness conservation and species loss have been critical drivers in arriving at this agreement," Brooks said. "We have a lot of work to do together to make this agreement successful and we are committed to make it happen."
The agreement is a three-year roadmap with mechanisms to allow for its extension. To keep the work on track and moving forward, the signatories have created a series of timelines and goals. These touchstones, along with the implementation of the agreement, will be periodically audited by a jointly selected independent auditing firm that will report publicly.
Canada's boreal forest covers about one third of the circumpolar boreal forest that rings the Northern Hemisphere. Native boreal trees include: black spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, larch, lodgepole pine, jack pine, aspens, cottonwood and white birch, and balsam poplar.
The Canadian boreal forest shelters an estimated five billion landbirds, both resident and migratory species, and contains the largest area of wetlands of any ecosystem of the world.
摘譯自2010年5月18日，ENS加拿大，多倫多報導；謝雯凱編譯；蔡麗伶審校
from:環境資訊協會
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