In a move to ward off potential oil and other resource exploration, Canada will set aside 25.5 million acres of land in the north to be used as two new conservation areas.
Environment Minister John Baird said the two protected areas in the Northwest territories will be among the largest in Canadian history.
The land is in Canada's boreal forest, covers as much land as 11 Yellowstone National Parks, and is teeming with wildlife such as bears, wolves, waterfowl and migratory songbirds.
The East Arm of Great Slave Lake will become a 8.3 million acre national park, while 15 million acres between the park and an existing wildlife refuge will be designated a conservation area managed by native groups.
Further northwest, 3.7 million acres of land near the Mackenzie River will be reserved for a national wildlife area.
Both areas are ecologically sensitive, but have been targeted by some resource companies due to the possibility of oil, gas and uranium deposits. Activists describe Canada's boreal forest as the largest intact forest remaining on the planet.
The new conservation areas will not affect a planned pipeline down the MacKenzie River that will deliver gas to the United States. Imperial Oil, ConocoPhillips Co., Shell Canada and ExxonMobil Corp. — are partners in the project, along with the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, set up to represents First Nations' interests.
Source:Xinhua
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