
Threatened by logging, the boreal forest needs our help
The Canadian boreal forest is one of Earth’s most important ecosystems and carbon sinks, but unsustainable logging is putting it, its wildlife and our planet in jeopardy.

The Canadian boreal forest, the world’s largest remaining intact forest, is being lost at a rate of 1 million acres per year. That’s the equivalent of one and a half football fields every minute.
The degradation of the boreal is devastating for both our climate and the wildlife that call the forest home. Home Depot’s policies suggest that some of its lumber is sourced at the expense of the boreal forest.
We’re working to protect this special place by urging Home Depot to change its practices.
The threat facing the great northern forest
The Canadian boreal forest is biologically diverse and ecologically important. It’s home to threatened caribou herds, grizzly bears, lynx and more than 3 billion birds.
The forest is also one of our greatest naturally occurring climate solutions.
The boreal’s trees and soil absorb 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide. That’s enough to offset the emissions of 24 million passenger vehicles. But by clear-cutting the forest, companies release an estimated 26 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
What you — and Home Depot — can do to help
Convincing Home Depot to stop logging the boreal forest has the potential for a large impact.
Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, with more than 2,300 stores in North America. By sourcing its wood sustainably, Home Depot could spark industry-wide change that could dramatically reduce logging in sensitive areas of the boreal forest.
The success of our campaign relies on the voices of everyday people. By signing onto our petition to Home Depot, you’ll help demonstrate strong support for saving special places.
Add your name to our petition calling on Home Depot to end logging in critical areas of the boreal forest.
Topics
Authors
Ellen Montgomery
Director, Public Lands Campaign, Environment America
Ellen runs campaigns to protect America's beautiful places, from local beachfronts to remote mountain peaks. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Arctic Defense Campaign and co-coordinates the Climate Forests Campaign. Ellen previously worked as the organizing director for Environment America’s Climate Defenders campaign and managed grassroots campaign offices across the country. Ellen lives in Denver, where she likes to hike in Colorado's mountains.
Sammy Herdman
Former Save The Boreal Forest Campaign, Associate, Environment America