Press Release

Contact:
 Adlai Amor, Media Director
 Tel: (+1-202) 729-7736 Email: aamor@wri.org

NRCan, FPAC, Global Forest Watch Canada and WRI Work to Enhance Canada's Understanding of its Forests

QUEBEC CITY, September 23, 2003 - Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Global Forest Watch Canada, and the World Resources Institute (WRI) today announced an agreement to cooperate to enhance Canada’s forest information. The agreement follows the September 15 release of Global Forest Watch Canada’s report “Canada’s Large Intact Forest Landscapes” - which contains maps based on high-resolution satellite imagery of Canada’s forests.

“We are pleased to cooperate with stakeholders in improving the information we have on Canada’s forests,” said the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. “Through our expertise and state-of-the-art technology, my department will continue to contribute to this base of knowledge so that Canadians can make decisions using the best information available.”

In a joint statement, the four organizations agreed that:

This analysis of large, intact forest landscapes in Canada is a significant step forward in increasing our knowledge about Canada’s forests. It provides important information for advancing land use and forest management decisions and will increase our common ability to think strategically about these forests.

To improve the state and availability of forest information in Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Forest Products Association of Canada, Global Forest Watch Canada and the World Resources Institute are committed to work together to further our shared understanding of Canada’s forest landscapes, with initial focus on intact forests.

We recognize the need to continue to collaborate with provincial/territorial governments and other providers of information in pursuing the above commitment.

“Building on our latest report on large intact forests landscapes, Global Forest Watch Canada welcomes more information-sharing about Canada’s vast forest landscapes,” said Peter Lee, National Coordinator of Global Forest Watch - Canada.

According to Jonathan Lash, President of WRI, “intact forest landscapes are areas of opportunity and responsibility, unique places where all land use options - from development to conservation - are still open. They are areas in which the best available knowledge and technology can be applied to ensure well-informed decisions.”

“Canada’s forest industry has made significant progress in its forestry practices over the last decade,” said Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of FPAC, “and this information will enable our industry to continue its efforts to achieve further improvements.”

“Canada’s Large Intact Forest Landscapes”, including maps and data, as well as media briefing materials are available at both www.globalforestwatch.org and www.globalforestwatch.ca