Suncor is a member of the Boreal Leadership Council (BLC) and signatory to the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework. The framework is a shared-vision initiative which encourages the combination of responsible resource development with efforts to maintain the ecological and cultural integrity of the Canadian boreal forest region.

The framework commits participants to:

• protect at least 50 percent of the Boreal region in a network of large interconnected protected areas
• support sustainable communities, world-leading ecosystem-based resource management practices and state-of-the-art stewardship practices in the remaining landscape

In October 2008, Suncor submitted its BLC Forest Conservation Framework 2009 Annual Action Plan. As part of that plan, Suncor's focus areas and priorities for 2009 are:

• regional collaboration
• environmental research and monitoring
• land conservation
• reporting our progress.

Suncor's oil sands operations and most of our natural gas activities occur within Canada's boreal forest region. Because of the ecological importance and sensitivity of this region, Suncor's action plan ensures that we operate responsibly and in accordance with our long-standing vision of sustainable development. The plan recognizes the need to balance areas of development with specifically protected areas and conservation zones. It also commits us to minimizing our environmental footprint by following best land management practices.

Suncor's land impacts are primarily the result of clearing to enable crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. These activities include oil sands mining, seismic exploration, in situ extraction and natural gas well sites and their associated infrastructure. Reclamation and restoration activities mitigate land impacts associated with our operations.