| Stop Logging in Algonquin Park! |
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| Wednesday, 17 October 2007 16:00 |
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In December 2006, the Ontario Parks Board released a report entitled Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Park (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/Ebr/altf/document_en.pdf ). The most significant suggestion made by the Board is to expand protected areas from the 22% to 54% of the park. Currently, almost 80% of Algonquin Park is open to logging – the Parks Board has determined that this area can be reduced without affecting wood supply. The majority of people in Ontario oppose logging in protected areas, however most people are not even aware that logging is allowed in Algonquin Park. Because of this, the report was buried and did not receive media attention. To make matters worse, the provincial government has not made a commitment to follow the Board’s recommendations. A subsequent report by Ancient Forest Exploration and Research (AFER) (http://www.ancientforest.org/algonquin.pdf ) has underscored the Ontario Parks Board’s recommendations by revealing how much old-growth forest in Algonquin Park is currently threatened by logging. The report shows that only half of Algonquin’s ancient trees are currently protected. However, if the Ontario Parks Board recommendations were implemented, the level of ancient forest protection would increase to just over two thirds of the old growth remaining in the park. Algonquin Park was created in 1893 as a designated site for logging operations, to be managed by the provincial government. Pioneer loggers from the Ottawa Valley made their way to this region in search of white pine. In spite of this, Algonquin Park was also established as a wildlife sanctuary and for decades these two functions were able to co-exist without too much conflict. However with industrialized logging, the increased number of visitors to the park, and pressures from urbanization, climate change and habitat loss, the need to rethink the management of Algonquin Park has become increasingly urgent. Currently, there are more kilometres of roads in Algonquin Park than there are in the city of Toronto! And most of these exist for one reason: to log the park. This is inconsistent with park values since one of the primary purposes of the park is to provide a large sanctuary for the wide range of flora and fauna that reside in the area. Earthroots insists that as a first step the provincial government must adopt the recommendation of the Ontario Parks Board to increase protection in the park. The old-growth forest in Algonquin Park must be protected from logging. Old-growth in Algonquin amounts to less than 1% of the park’s total forest and species such as Beech and Hemlock are facing broad decline in Ontario. An end to old-growth logging is necessary to preserve biodiversity across the province. The government also needs to institute a plan to phase logging out of Algonquin Park entirely – logging has no place in one of Canada’s most renowned protected areas. Parks like Algonquin are a critical component of our cultural identity as Canadians. Algonquin Park in particular, has widespread name recognition and significant world-wide acclaim. The park is an essential place for scientific research, and provides inspiration to artists, families and recreationalists. It is also inhabited by a range of important and distinct species, and is home to a mixture of forest types. What Algonquin offers us is priceless; it is certainly worth more than the price of the timber we extract from it. We must not compromise the natural beauty of this park for future generations. It is a crucial time to take action for Algonquin Park! Please take a few moments to contact Premier McGuinty about how important Algonquin Park is to you. Let the Premier know that his government should:
Send you letter to: Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier or Send Dalton McGuinty an email through his website:
For more information, contact Josh Garfinkel, Earthroots Parks and Protected Areas Campaigner, at 416-599-0152 x15 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Algonquin Park, Canada’s oldest Provincial Park, draws people from all over the world to experience the natural wonders that the region has to offer. Approximately 1.1 million people now visit the park annually. As a result of this dramatic increase in the number of visitors to Algonquin, the Ontario Parks Board recently investigated ways to reduce the human impacts in the park in order to better preserve the area.