Basic principles for the design of protected area networks are well established in the scientific literature. However, the application of generically-defined concepts to a specific landscape, such as the boreal forest, is not a simple matter. In some cases considerable effort will be required in adapting concepts to the boreal setting (e.g., connectivity). In other cases site-specific information will be required for implementation (e.g., delineation of reserve boundaries). This paper presents a review of the various implementation issues that will need to be addressed in the Boreal Forest Campaign (BFC). For each issue it was summarized what is currently known and identify key gaps that warrant additional research. The paper begins with a brief review of fundamental design concepts to provide context for the specific implementation issues that follow. In the final section information sources and options for how the required research might be conducted were reviewed too. The focus of the paper is on the portion of the boreal forest that is subject to industrial use. Issues pertaining to the protection of the forest north of the industrial use zone are discussed briefly in the section entitled The Reverse Matrix.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
Alberta Centre for Boreal Studies

Region
Americas

Biome
Boreal

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
Production