The Canadian Boreal region is an area over 1,000 kilometres wide separating the tundra in the north and the temperate rain forest and deciduous woodlands in the south and west. The landscape in this region is covered almost entirely by trees, with aspen and balsam poplar dominating the evergreens. There are extensive expanses of Aspen Parkland in the Grande Prairie, Peace River and Fort Vermilion areas. There are also four major river systems that drain most of Alberta's north country. The presence of extensive wetlands is a major characteristic of the Boreal Forest Natural Region as well.

Significant deposits of Bitumen, also known as tarsands have been found in the area around Peace River and Slave Lake, thus threatening the continued existence of flora and fauna of the Boreal through oil and gas developments.