As U.S. Parks face cut back and no significant expansion of forested areas, Canada has set aside  25.5 million acres of land in the north for use as two new conservation areas — the equivalent to 11 Yellowstone National Parks. Notably, despite high oil prices, the Canadians are more concerned with protecting areas of damaging oil exploration.  The move puts our own park policy in sharp relief.  We are losing huge amounts of forested areas to development despite the fact that our national parks are the most popular vacation spots in the United States and the most popular federal program. The Canadians have shown that not every legislative body is captured by lobbyists and that it is possible for a democratic nation to actually serve future generation and the public welfare. For the full story, click here