Wrapping like a green cloak around the shoulders of Canada, from Newfoundland & Labrador to British Columbia and the Yukon, the boreal forest covers over 50 per cent of Canada's landmass. Along with the Amazon Rainforest and the Russian Boreal, it is one of only three great forests left on Earth. The Boreal presents one of the last and best opportunities in the world to protect vast tracts of undisturbed wilderness. The film follows two canoe trips through the forest, showcasing the magnificent Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories and the more industrialized Athabasca River in Northern Alberta. During the journey down this river, viewers will witness the effects of industrial development on the entire forest's ecosystem.