The vision set out in the Framework is "to sustain the ecological and cultural integrity of the Canadian boreal region, in perpetuity."
Its goal is to conserve the boreal region by: "protecting at least 50% of the region in a network of large interconnected protected areas, and supporting sustainable communities through world-leading ecosystem-based resource management practices and leading edge stewardship practices in the remaining landscape.
Abundant wildlife, including some of the world's largest populations of caribou, bears, wolves and lynx are present here.
However, maintaining all ecological functions, natural services and cultural values will likely require conservation of significantly more than 50% of a landscape.
Moreover, given the importance of large-scale natural disturbances (such as fires) to ecosystem function of the boreal forest, planning must occur over very large areas.