One of the most significant aspects of the Ontario Living Legacy program is its commitment to further expand the parks and reserves system in Central and Northern Ontario.

Today, the Partnership, the government and the forestry industry are discussing how to ensure that the full range of species, habitats and ecosystems found in this part of Ontario are represented in our protected-areas system. We know that we will have to add significant new protected areas to ensure that we have a healthy system in place for future generations — one that really will help ensure that the whole suite of species and natural systems that exists today in Ontario is protected. In some cases, we may even need to restore areas that have been heavily impacted by industrial uses — a job that may take generations to complete.

In the far north, we have a fantastic opportunity to take a new approach to conservation. Today, the vast forests north of about 51 degree latitudes remain much as they have been for centuries — almost completely unlogged and with few roads. The region is home to approximately 26 First Nation communities and we are reaching out to these communities to talk about the region's future. Roads and forestry could rapidly change the face of this region in the very near future, so it is critical that we not miss this chance to change our approach — to put ecosystem and community health first and to develop a truly sustainable land- use model.

For further details, check out these related pages:

• Lands for Life Area, which focuses on identifying the areas that still need to be added to the system
• Far Northern Boreal, which represents one of the largest intact forest areas in Canada a chance for us to take a new approach to conservation
• Science of Conservation, which explains how science plays a large part of mapping out a protected-areas system