Many of the best remaining unroaded, uncut, undisturbed wilderness areas in Ontario will be protected under our newly expanded parks and reserves system. From the dense and sheltering boreal forests around Wabikimi to the granite shoreline of Lake Superior and the remote islands of Lake Nipigon, from the rugged highlands of Algoma and the ancient pine forests of the Lower Spanish to the fast waters of the Kesagami and the sun-dappled hardwoods along the York River, we now have a whole suite of spectacular new protected areas to celebrate.

These new areas also mark a new approach to establishing protected areas. Rather than simply drawing lines around areas that are of less or little interest to industry, these new protected areas are deliberately focused on areas that have strong natural values — such as the old-growth pine forests of the Lower Spanish or important woodland caribou habitat on the edge of Wabakimi. Boundaries, as much as possible, follow natural divides, such as ridges or river valleys, rather than arbitrary straight lines. And finally, we have stressed the idea of systems — linking protected areas together with waterway parks or coastal reserves to allow for the natural movement of species (for more information, see New Site Profiles).

We've taken a big step forward but there is lots more work to be done. In the months ahead we must:

• Ensure that our parks system — including any new parks — remain off limits to mining, logging and hydro dams. (For more information, see Latest News/What You Can Do.) 
• Ensure that the government doesn’t stop after taking the first step of setting aside new wilderness areas. Getting 12% of the Central and Northern Ontario protected right away is a significant accomplishment, but we need to remind the Premier that 12% is a beginning, not an end. (For more information, see Finishing the System.) 
• Ensure that management and industrial activities on the landscape outside of parks does not leave protected areas isolated and species trapped. (For more information, see Forestry Reform.) 
• Work with people and communities to make the most of our parks and protected areas — whether it’s through ecotourism, scientific research or just an enhanced quality of life. (For more information, see Park Values.) 

For further details, check out these related pages:

• New Site Profiles, which outlines the boundaries and characteristics of new protected areas 
• Regional Maps, which provides information and maps by region of the new system 
• Latest News, which gives updated news and information and features what you can do 
• Science of Conservation, which explains how science plays a large part of mapping out a protected-areas system