Study Says Northern Forests Largely Untouched

Study Says Northern Forests Largely Untouched

Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 13:32

A recent survey of Canada’s forests has brought some welcome news for the province.

According to the organization doing the work, Saskatchewan has one of the largest sections of intact boreal forest in the country.

Al Willcocks of Saskatchewan Environment says the primary reason for this is the lack of people living north of the Churchill River region.

Willcocks says this gives forest fires the chance to burn unchecked in regions of old-growth timberlands that need clearing out.

The group responsible for the survey, Global Forest Watch, reports that 74 percent of Saskatchewan’s boreal forest is intact and free from industrial activity — the second-highest percentage in the country.