Jason Nixon

EDMONTON – Alberta plans to expand the world’s largest connected stretch of boreal forest preserve. Environment Minister Jason Nixon said Thursday the province wants to protect more than 1,400 square kilometres of forest and wetland to bring the total area conserved to over 68,000 square kilometres. The plan for what would be an expansion of the Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Park now goes out for 30 days of public comment with the intent of it being passed in legislation. …Nixon said the park was made possible by the surrender of industrial dispositions on the land from companies including Cenovus and Athabasca Oil.The park is home to threatened species such as woodland caribou and wood bison. It’s the second  announcement protecting stretches of northern Alberta’s forests this week. …On Tuesday, the province said it had completed a plan to manage oilsands development in an area near the Fort McKay First Nation.