New Conservation Zones for North Canada - AP

Source: Associated Press

New Conservation Zones for North Canada

Wednesday November 21, 2007 10:31 PM

By ROB GILLIES

Associated Press Writer

TORONTO (AP) - Canada will set aside 25.5 million
acres in the north for use as two new conservation
areas, a move aimed at staving off potential oil and
other resource exploration in some regions.

The two protected areas in the Northwest Territories
will be among the largest in Canadian history, federal
Environment Minister John Baird said.

The zones, which are within Canada's boreal forest,
teem with wildlife.

The eastern arm area of Great Slave Lake will become
an 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.

-snip-

Both areas are ecologically sensitive, but have been
targeted by some resource companies due to the
possibility of oil, natural gas and uranium deposits.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7095062,00.html

That works out to 3984 sq miles