BCR 8 – Boreal Softwood Shield

The Boreal Softwood Shield is a broad, U-shaped region comprising seacoasts in the east and vast areas that are more than 80 percent forested by closed stands of conifers, largely white and black spruce, balsam fir and tamarack. Toward the south, broadleaf trees such as white birch, trembling aspen and balsam poplar are more widely distributed, as are white, red and jack pine. The region is a broadly rolling mosaic of uplands and associated wetlands, dotted with numerous small to medium-sized lakes. Peatlands are common in wetland areas.

Representative birds include American Black Duck, Purple Sandpiper, Yellow Rail, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Owl, as well as Mourning, Palm, Bay-breasted, Connecticut, Cape May, Magnolia, and Tennessee Warblers.

Coastlines and offshore areas in the east are important year-round for breeding and wintering seabirds.

Habitat Joint Ventures:

• Eastern Habitat Joint Venture
• Prairie Habitat Joint Venture

BCR strategies:

• Strategy for BCR 8NL and MBUs 10 & 12 NL: Boreal Softwood Shield, Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves, and Gulf of St. Lawrence PDF
• Strategy for BCR 8ON: Boreal Softwood Shield PDF
• Strategy for BCR 8PNR: Boreal Softwood Shield PDF
• Strategy for BCR 8QC: Boreal Softwood Shield PDF

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