Algonquin Park: reducing the ecological footprint of logging

Ontario Parks has announced the first stage of public consultation for an amendment to the Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan, which will address lightening the ecological footprint of logging.

The proposed amendment will reduce the area available for logging from 78% to 65% of the overall park area, a reduction of only 13%. The vast majority of Algonquin’s woodlands remain open to logging.

On the other hand, this amendment proposes to reduce previously protected areas that were unsuitable for logging such as water, rock, wetlands, swamp and forest reserves from 23% to 14%. It is noteworthy, that while logging will not be permitted in this additional 14% 'protection zone', it remains open to logging-related operations such as logging roads and aggregate extraction. Aggregate mining is needed to extract gravel to build logging roads and is a fundamental part of logging operations.

Once all the percentages are re-calculated, the total area protected in Algonquin Park increases from 45% to only 49%. A comparison of current to proposed protection areas can be found in Appendix C of the Joint Proposal for Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Park.

The McGuinty government has introduced this amendment with little fanfare, because even though a million people visit Algonquin Park every year, most Ontarians are unaware that logging is the principle activity in the park. Most Ontarians believe Algonquin Park is the jewel of all protected areas, and would be outraged to learn that Algonquin Park is no more than a Forestry Management Unit to the Ontario government.

We encourage people to please support this amendment but please state very clearly that:

the message being sent with this amendment is that forestry companies still dominate park planning in Algonquin Provincial Park;
that any amendment should describe a planning process for the gradual phase-out of all logging activities in Algonquin Park;
industry is industry and it's incompatible with ecological integrity – the understanding that only in large areas, protected in perpetuity, can
nature behave naturally, and plants, animals, birds and fish thrive, and;
such "integrity" got top priority in a new Provincial Parks Act two years ago. We need it on the ground, not just on paper. The Algonquin amendments are too small a step in that direction.

You can find additional planning documents, including the Background Document at: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/algo_planning.html

If you require a hardcopy of any of this material, please contact Paul Gelok, A/Park Planner, at 613-637-2780 x244 or paul.gelok@ontario.ca.

You may submit comments in writing through the Environmental Registry (http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/) or to Algonquin Park staff, as follows:

Paul Gelok, A/Park Planner
Algonquin Provincial Park
Hwy 60, East Gate Complex
P.O. Box 219
Whitney, Ontario K0J 2M0
Phone. (613) 637-2780 Ext 244
Fax. (613) 637-2864
Email: paul.gelok@ontario.ca