The year 2011 has been designated as The International Year of Forests by the United Nations. The Boreal Forest is, arguably, the most important global forest. Certainly it is the most significant continuous forested region in Canada. Your task is to prepare a formal written research report about The Boreal.

Your starting point:

The Ecological Framework of CanadaEcozones of Canada: Boreal Shield Ecozonehttp://ecozones.ca/english/zone/BorealShield/index.html

Your job is to prepare a summary report that:

(i) provides background information on the Boreal Forest, including

• Canadian and global extent of the boreal forest• countries/regions of the world where the forest can be found• characteristics of the boreal forest (i.e. climate, seasonality, soils, species

(flora and fauna))• environmental importance/significance of the boreal forest• threats to the boreal forest

(ii) describes the action response to the situation by local/global government(s) and/or NGO’s (non-governmental organisations like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, the Canadian Model Forest Network, Global Forest Watch, the Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, etc.)

• kinds of actions engaged in and/or undertaken• agencies/organisations running the programmes• accomplishments/successes

•Your Works Consulted must include at least four (4) other resources (web resources, newspapers, journals, periodicals, etc.).

•At least one (1) source must be accessed from the TDSB databases available through the ESA Library portal.

CGC The Boreal Forest: A Research Based Report

This is a rich research task. Start early. Dig deep.Don’t forget to include an introduction and

conclusion to your report.

Additional Recommended Resources

•2011 International Year of Forests•http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/

•Natural Resources Defense Council: The Boreal Forest, Earth’s Green Crown•http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/boreal/intro.asp

•The Boreal Songbird Initiative•http://www.borealbirds.org/index.shtml

•Tree Canada: Canada’s Forests•http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=publication_download_canadaforest&lang=en

•Boreal Forests of the World: Management and Sustainability, Canada•http://www.borealforest.org/world/can_mgmt06.htm

•Forest Fire in Canada•http://fire.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.php

•Canadian Forest Service: Boreal Forest•http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pages/151

•Canadian Boreal Initiative•http://borealcanada.ca/index-e.php

•Sustainable Forest Management in Canada: Canada’s Boreal Forest•http://www.sfmcanada.org/english/bp_ecosystem.asp

•Nature Canada: 2011 International Year of Forests•http://www.naturecanada.ca/enews_jan11_yearofforests1.asp

Submission Guidelines

• Your typed, double-spaced assignment should be approx 2 - 3 pages (500 - 750 words).

• Your written report should be submitted using proper MLA formatting. Refer to page 34 in your student workbook.

• Your report must be fully and properly documented with a Works Consulted.

• Your Ecozone Basics Organiser, Report Outline, jot notes, Rubric and Self-Assessment must be submitted with your final written report.

CGC The Boreal Forest: A Research Based Report

This assignment is due at the start of class on

________________________

Ecozone Basics: Complete this organiser as you read through the Ecozones Canada webpages and submit with your final written work.

Landforms & Landscape

Climate

Vegetation

Wildlife

Resources and Industries

Land Area

Population

CGC The Boreal Forest: A Research Based Report

Research Process Self Assessment: Complete the following and submit with your finished report.

Research Knowledge and Skills Score 1-5 Comments

I have taken care not to plagiarise or be intellectually dishonest in my research

I have analysed and evaluated print resources using a variety of criteria

I have analysed and evaluated electronic and internet resources using a variety of criteria

I have taken effective notes to record the information found in the resources I have used

I have taken care to differentiate between the summary, the paraphrase and the direct quote in my notes

I have recorded my own responses to the information found in the resources I have used

I have completed the Draft Organiser before writing my story

I have written an outline of my story with an introduction and a conclusion

I have taken care not to plagiarise or be intellectually dishonest by summarising, paraphrasing with care

I have taken care not to plagiarise or be intellectually dishonest by using proper embedded citations

I have taken care not to plagiarise or be intellectually dishonest by citing all facts, ideas and/or expressions that were not already my general knowledge

I have generated a full, properly organised Works Consulted

I believe that my work accurately reflects my abilities at the present time

SCORING CHART: 1 lowest score 5 highest score

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

CGC The Boreal Forest: A Research Based Report