_{Draft Forest Management Plan for Temagami}

We need your voice to speak out for increased protection of Temagami's wilderness!  Please copy and paste the text below into a Word document, modify it to reflect your unique perspective, and print out and mail the letter to the Minister of Natural Resources at the address below. 

To view the posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights please visit http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ and type in EBR# 010-0008. 

For more information please contact Earthroots Forest Campaigner, Mark Kear, at 416-599-0152 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

If you could also email us copy of your letter for our records at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , we would appreciate it.   

Temagami Template Letter

Please direct your letter to: 

Honourable Donna Cansfield

Minister of Natural Resources

99 Wellesley Street West, Room 6630, Whitney Block

Toronto, ON

M7A 1W3

Fax: 416-325-5316

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Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources
99 Wellesley Street West, Room 6630, Whitney Block, Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3
Fax: 416-325-5316  

Re: EBR Registry Number: 010-0008 - Forest Management Plan for the Temagami Crown Management Unit (CMU) for the 10-year period April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2019 – Public Inspection of Approved Plan 

Dear Minister Cansfield,
 
On March 4th, 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) released the final version of the 2009-2019 Temagami Forest Management Plan (FMP). The Plan is one of the most contentious in the history of the management unit (MU).  For the first time in Ontario's history the Local Citizens' Committee (LCC) expressed its general disagreement with the draft plan, and a record 8 issue resolution processes were initiated. 

I am concerned that the Plan endorses logging in endangered old-growth ecosystems, threatens the viability of ecotourism, and provides no strategy for dealing with climate change. The Plan must be modified to ensure that ecological and recreational values are protected and that Temagami has a sustainable future.  As a concerned citizen of Ontario, I am asking that following amendments and additions be made to the 2009-2019 Temagami Forest Management Plan before it is too late: 

- Only 65% of the area allocated for harvest has been utilized and mill demand is at a historic low, therefore the area allocated for harvest must be adjusted to reflect recent changes in industrial wood demand and past utilization levels.
 
- Increasing road density promotes illegal access, inflates OMNR monitoring and enforcement costs, and threatens ecological integrity, therefore targets to reduce or maintain road density must be developed for the short term (10 years) and medium term (20 years) - not only the long term (100 years).
 
- Old-growth red and white pine forest is an endangered ecosystem and more than half of what remains is located in Temagami, therefore old-growth red and white pine must be excluded from operations altogether.
 
- First Nations people have the right to be consulted and accommodated, and cut-block Canton 60 is located in close proximity to the Spirit Forest (home to the Wakimika Triangle, the largest old-growth red and white pine forest in the world) and the Spirit Rock sacred site, therefore cut-block Canton 60 must be removed from operations.
 
- The growth of ecotourism and the diversification of the local economy are dependent upon the creation of unbroken protected areas free of industrial activities, therefore the Western Backcountry must be off limits to logging and eventually granted park status in its entirety.
 
- Temagami's ancient forest ecosystems contain centuries of accumulated carbon, and global warming is a threat to Temagami's forests in the form of extreme weather events, insect infestations and shifting zones of species competition, therefore a climate change strategy - including objectives, indicators and targets - must be developed for Temagami.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the FMP process; I hope that the OMNR will take a progressive approach to managing the Temagami region by addressing these concerns. 

Sincerely,