<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>-----Original=20 Message-----</B><BR></DIV></FONT>>From: "Lara E." <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:larawl@web.net">larawl@web.net</A>><BR>>To:=20 "'Marie-France Malo'" <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:mfmalo@cen.web.net">mfmalo@cen.web.net</A>><BR>>Subj= ect: HELP=20 !!!!!<BR>>Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 10:02:46 = -0500<BR>><BR><BR>>This sign=20 on for the scientific community is critical in the fight to save = Ontario's=20 wilderness and we need everyone's help in getting it widely distributed = in a=20 short time. We need sign ons by Nov. 30! <BR>><BR>>This sign on is = for=20 members of the scientific community. (If people get it and aren't = scientists but=20 want to send a message to the government of Ontario they can contact me=20 (larawl@web.net) and I will send them a different sign on.)=20 <BR>><BR>>Signed versions of this are to be returned to Kevin = Kavanagh at=20 WWF (address and info. below) with the person's affiliation - Thanks for = Ontario's Wilderness! Lara Ellis, Wildlands League=20 (larawl@web.net)<BR>><BR>><BR>>PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE = WIDELY TO=20 THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY!!!!<BR>><BR>>In the message that follows = you will=20 find an urgent STATEMENT OF<BR>>CONSERVATION CONCERN that has been = prepared=20 by a group of conservation<BR>>biologists in Ontario,=20 Canada.<BR>><BR>>THE ISSUE: An Ontario government land use = planning=20 process<BR>>called "Lands For Life" is about to make a = decision on=20 how much land<BR>>to permanently protect across a landbase spanning = 45=20 MILLION hectares<BR>>(an area larger than California or twice the = size of=20 Britain), 40<BR>>million hectares of which is PUBLIC land. ALL LAND = not=20 protected will<BR>>be tenured to the forestry and mining=20 industries.<BR>><BR>>A final consolidated report prepared by = public=20 roundtables dominated<BR>>by industry representatives was released on = October=20 30, 1998. The<BR>>government has now given the public only 30 DAYS to = respond=20 before it<BR>>makes its final decision!! The report recommends that = only 1.6%=20 of<BR>>this land base be added to the protected areas system (6.6%=20 is<BR>>currently protected). The remaining 92% of this massive area = will=20 be<BR>>made available to the forestry and mining industries who are=20 currently<BR>>seeking legal tenure agreements that will last in=20 perpetuity.<BR>><BR>>Despite the fact that a primary goal of Lands = For=20 Life was the<BR>>completion of a representative protected areas = system, the=20 Round Table<BR>>report fails to do this.<BR>><BR>> ***What is = Needed=20 >From the International Scientific and=20 Academic<BR>>Communities***<BR>><BR>>We are requesting that = scientists=20 who share our conservation concerns<BR>>in this urgent situation sign = on to=20 and help circulate the attached<BR>>STATEMENT OF CONSERVATION CONCERN = to the=20 Government of Ontario. To<BR>>assist you in deciding whether to sign = the=20 Statement, we have provided<BR>>a Summary and Backgrounder that = provides you=20 with greater detail on<BR>>this issue (located in this message after = the=20 statement).<BR>><BR>>To sign on, please e-mail or FAX your NAME = and=20 INSTITUTIONAL<BR>>AFFILIATION to Kevin Kavanagh at World Wildlife = Fund=20 Canada. A<BR>>response by November 30th would be most=20 helpful.<BR>><BR>>We URGE you to forward this statement to other=20 colleagues and request<BR>>that they, too, add their names to this=20 statement.<BR>><BR>>e-mail address: = kkavanagh@wwfcanada.org<BR>>FAX:=20 (416) 489-3611<BR>><BR>>*What we plan to do with the statement and = signatures.*<BR>><BR>>We will coordinate and facilitate the = presentation=20 of the statement to<BR>>the Ontario government and the media at a = briefing to=20 be held in early<BR>>December, 1998. We will also use the list of = names to=20 advise the<BR>>Ontario public of the strong support from the = scientific and=20 academic<BR>>communities for increasing the amount of protected lands = in=20 Ontario.<BR>><BR>><BR>>A COLLECTIVE STATEMENT OF CONSERVATION = CONCERN=20 FROM THE SCIENTIFIC<BR>> AND ACADEMIC COMMUNITIES<BR>><BR>> = REGARDING=20 LANDS FOR LIFE<BR>><BR>> ONTARIO, CANADA<BR>><BR>>Whereas = conserving=20 biodiversity is of importance to maintaining the<BR>>natural state of = the=20 Earth's biosphere and in turn the quality of life<BR>>for=20 humankind;<BR>><BR>>Whereas establishing protected areas systems = is=20 fundamentally<BR>>important to society in providing humankind with a = source=20 of natural<BR>>capital upon which to build a greater diversity of=20 environmental<BR>>options for future = generations;<BR>><BR>>Whereas the=20 principal cause of wildlife extinction and population<BR>>decline are = loss=20 and fragmentation of wild habitat by widespread<BR>>industrial=20 development;<BR>><BR>>Whereas industrial mining, forestry and=20 hydroelectric development are<BR>>incompatible with maintaining the = natural=20 integrity of a significant<BR>>portion of wild=20 habitats;<BR>><BR>>Whereas a representative, permanent protected = areas=20 system is<BR>>necessary to help maintain diverse genetic resources = and for=20 the<BR>>ongoing function of providing benchmark sites for the = evaluation=20 and<BR>>improvement of surrounding industrial management=20 practices:<BR>><BR>>Whereas current forest management practices in = Ontario, Canada<BR>>are still experimental with respect to the = maintenance=20 of<BR>>biodiversity, and in court have recently (October 1998) been = shown=20 to<BR>>be in non-compliance with Ontario's own Crown Forest=20 Sustainability<BR>>Act;<BR>><BR>>Whereas the Lands for Life=20 Consolidated Report from the Round<BR>>Tables only recommends = protection of=20 an additional 1.6% of the land<BR>>base within the Lands For Life = planning=20 area, bringing the total<BR>>protected land base to 8.2%, a figure = inadequate=20 to sustain ecological<BR>>integrity and the long term health of = aquatic and=20 terrestrial wildlife<BR>>populations and ecosystem=20 types:<BR>><BR>>Resolved:<BR>><BR>>We, the undersigned, wish = to=20 convey our collective dismay that<BR>>Ontario's Lands for Life Round = Tables=20 have been unable to bring<BR>>modern science to bear on the urgent = issue of=20 ecosystem protection and<BR>>failed to recommend completion of a = permanent=20 protected areas system<BR>>representing Ontario's landscape=20 diversity.<BR>><BR>>Accordingly, we call on the Government of = Ontario to=20 reject the<BR>>Round Tables' recommendation to permanently protect = only=20 an<BR>>additional 1.6% of the planning area. Rather, we urge the=20 Government<BR>>of Ontario to complete, as promised, a protected areas = system=20 that is<BR>>fully representative of Ontario's diverse ecosystem = types. Such=20 a<BR>>system must utilize accepted scientific principles of protected = areas<BR>>design and accepted precautionary principles which, we = believe,=20 will<BR>>require that at least 20% of the planning area be=20 permanently<BR>>protected.<BR>><BR>>It is our opinion that to = do=20 anything less will lead to the further<BR>>decline and loss of native = habitats, wildlife species, and genetic<BR>>resources that underpin = the=20 ecological integrity of a significant part<BR>>of the Ontario and = Canadian=20 landscape, and forecloses opportunities<BR>>for recreational, = cultural,=20 spiritual and economic development on a<BR>>truly sustainable=20 basis.<BR>><BR>>--end of public=20 statement--<BR>><BR>>**********************************************= ********<BR>>XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<BR>>*************= *****************************************<BR>><BR>>BACKGROUND=20 INFORMATION<BR>>ONTARIO'S LANDS FOR LIFE=20 PROCESS<BR>>__________________________________________________________= ______<BR>>___________________________________________________________= _____<BR>><BR>>Summary<BR>><BR>>·=20 The Ontario government launched a massive land-use = planning<BR>>exercise=20 called Lands For Life in February, 1997. Covering a land area<BR>>of = nearly=20 40 million hectares (an area twice the size of Britain or<BR>>equal = in size=20 to the entire state of California), this process was<BR>>mandated to = achieve=20 three primary goals: (1) complete Ontario's<BR>>system of parks and = protected=20 areas, (2) recognize the land use needs<BR>>of resource-based tourism = and (3)=20 provide greater certainty on the<BR>>intervening landscape for the = forest=20 industry. Later, other resource<BR>>goals were added to explore = enhanced=20 opportunities for outdoor<BR>>recreation, including hunting and = fishing, and=20 consider the land-use<BR>>needs of the mining=20 industry.<BR>><BR>>· On October 30, 1998, the Ontario = government=20 publicly released a<BR>>consolidated report from three Advisory Round = Tables=20 concerning<BR>>allocation of public lands in this large area. In = addition to=20 proposed<BR>>land use designations, this report includes 242 = recommendations=20 to the<BR>>Ontario government. Currently, 6.6% of the planning area = is=20 protected<BR>>from major industrial activity through national and = provincial=20 parks<BR>>and conservation reserves. The report recommends that an=20 additional<BR>>1.6% be added to the protected areas system for a = total of=20 8.2%,<BR>>leaving many natural regions without significant protected = areas.=20 The<BR>>provincial round tables themselves admitted failure to = achieve=20 parks<BR>>targets.<BR>><BR>>· Among the 242 = recommendations to=20 the provincial government, are<BR>> recommendations = to:<BR>><BR>>=20 · Permit mineral exploration and mining in conservation reserves; = ·<BR>> Permit logging in conservation reserves; · = Consider=20 deregulation of<BR>> areas protected for natural heritage<BR>> = values if=20 there is found to be existing mineral potential<BR>> · = Consider=20 completing the parks and protected areas system using<BR>> = "floating=20 reserves"<BR>><BR>>· The forest industry is seeking = long-term=20 tenure for those public<BR>>lands not permanently protected as = provincial=20 parks or conservation<BR>>reserves. The forest industry is on record = as=20 requesting that it be<BR>>granted compensable tenure in perpetuity = across a=20 majority of the land<BR>>base. Draft reports by industry and the = provincial=20 government have<BR>>advocated tenure in = perpetuity.<BR>><BR>>·=20 The joint conservation science team of the Partnership For = Public<BR>>Lands=20 (World Wildlife Fund Canada, Federation of Ontario = Naturalists<BR>>and the=20 Wildlands League, a chapter of the Canadian Parks and<BR>>Wilderness = Society)=20 believe that these recommendations fall far short<BR>>of = long-standing=20 commitments to move towards completing a protected<BR>>areas system = in=20 Ontario, and threaten biodiversity conservation in<BR>>Ontario and = Canada.=20 Further, this set of protected areas decisions<BR>>will likely be the = last=20 that can be made before all remaining lands<BR>>are handed over to = the forest=20 and mining industries.<BR>><BR>>· A coordinated public = response is=20 needed from the scientific<BR>>community that rejects the Round Table = recommendations and encourages<BR>>the Ontario government to = permanently=20 protect at least 20% of these<BR>>public lands to better meet the = Lands For=20 Life goals related to<BR>>biodiversity conservation and maintaining = the=20 ecological integrity of<BR>>the landscape.<BR>><BR>>ECOSYSTEM=20 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLANNING AREA<BR>><BR>>General Description = of the=20 Study Area<BR>><BR>>The Lands For Life Planning area covers = approximately=20 46 million<BR>>hectares of Ontario stretching from the Quebec border = westward=20 nearly<BR>>1,500 km to the Manitoba border. Nearly 40 million = hectares=20 are<BR>>publicly owned "Crown" lands and represents the = area=20 directly impacted<BR>>by the Lands For Life decision-making=20 process.<BR>><BR>>Much of the planning area consists of hilly = topography=20 characteristic<BR>>of the Canadian Shield. Towards the northeast, the = topography becomes<BR>>much gentler in the ancient lake-bed clay = belts and=20 the James Bay<BR>>lowlands. The entire area was glaciated and soils = are often=20 thinly<BR>>deposited over acidic bedrock, although their are large = areas=20 of<BR>>deeper alluvial, fluvio-glacial and lacustrine=20 deposits.<BR>><BR>>Mixed hardwood forests stretch from southern = Georgian=20 Bay east<BR>>to the Ottawa valley and west to the eastern shores of = Lake=20 Superior.<BR>>Here are found some of the most extensive old-growth = white and=20 red<BR>>pine stands remaining in the world. Places such as the Lower=20 Spanish<BR>>River, Temagami and the Algoma Highlands contain = significant=20 stands.<BR>>As one moves northwards through the planning area, = forests=20 transition<BR>>into mixed hardwood-boreal forests and finally, boreal = forests=20 and<BR>>northern wetlands that extend from the James Bay lowlands = along=20 the<BR>>Quebec border westward to the Ontario-Manitoba border. Wild = fire=20 was<BR>>historically the dominant force of forest renewal in the=20 boreal<BR>>forests of the area. Fire suppression is now practiced = throughout=20 the<BR>>planning area, even in most protected areas. Fortunately, in = some=20 of<BR>>the larger protected areas, discussion of fire management is=20 now<BR>>beginning to occur.<BR>><BR>>A diversity of wetland = types,=20 including fens, bogs, marshes and<BR>>forested swamps are distributed = throughout the planning area. Aquatic<BR>>systems are also well = represented,=20 and extensive and diverse shoreline<BR>>communities are present along = the=20 north shore of Georgian Bay and = Lake<BR>>Superior.<BR>><BR>>Current=20 Status of the Landbase<BR>><BR>>The majority of this land base has = already=20 been accessed for<BR>>industrial development, principally forestry. = Of the 46=20 million<BR>>hectares, only 40 roadless areas are larger than 20,000 = hectares=20 . A<BR>>few of these are protected in existing national and = provincial=20 parks<BR>>but most are vulnerable to the rapid encroachment of=20 industry.<BR>><BR>>The widespread nature of human impact across = Ontario's=20 landscape was<BR>>referenced in the most recent annual report (April = 1998)=20 from the<BR>>environmental commissioners office, where it was stated = that=20 the<BR>>Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) should use the=20 "precautionary<BR>>principle".when it establishes the = extent and=20 size of land designated<BR>>to protect Ontario's natural heritage = features=20 (recommendation #9). In<BR>>other words, protected areas should tend = towards=20 larger rather than<BR>>smaller sizes. The ecological integrity of the = intervening industrial<BR>>landscape across the planning area is a = major=20 concern of conservation<BR>>biologists in Ontario. The methods used = by the=20 MNR to select large,<BR>>representative protected areas assume that = large=20 sizes are not<BR>>required in the planning area since the good forest = industry<BR>>management practices in the surrounding landscape can = support=20 and<BR>>conserve Ontario's biodiversity. The above notation by=20 Ontario's<BR>>environmental commissioner and additional evidence = presented=20 below<BR>>regarding industrial land management suggests that this a=20 dangerous<BR>>assumption.<BR>><BR>>Wildlife = Issues<BR>><BR>>Most=20 of Ontario's wildlife species are still present, but=20 significant<BR>>contraction and fragmentation of the ranges of = several=20 large-bodied<BR>>animals are well documented. Eastern cougar and = wolverine=20 are believed<BR>>to be virtually extirpated from this entire planning = area.=20 Gray wolf<BR>>populations have contracted across the southern = portions of=20 the<BR>>planning area. Within the past year, genetic studies of = wolves in=20 the<BR>>eastern portions of the planning area have shown that these = are,=20 in<BR>>fact, red wolf populations that were thought to be extirpated = in=20 the<BR>>North American wild. The range of woodland caribou has=20 retracted<BR>>significantly northwards with remaining populations are = centered<BR>>primarily within and around existing protected=20 areas.<BR>><BR>>Populations of most wildlife species are not = consistently=20 monitored by<BR>>the Ontario or Canadian governments. This is evident = from=20 the report<BR>>of the Auditor General for Ontario that was issued in = early=20 November,<BR>>1998. With respect to the MNR, which has a mandate to = manage=20 wildlife,<BR>>the report stated that "the Ministry had t = developed=20 proper<BR>>effectiveness measures to assess.success in achieving=20 sustained<BR>>development of the province's fish and wildlife = resources and=20 lacked<BR>>the information necessary for identifying areas requiring=20 corrective<BR>>actions." The Environmental Commissioner of = Ontario's=20 Annual Report<BR>>for 1997/98 assessed the Quality of Reporting - = Wildlife=20 Inventory<BR>>Databases as "poor". For example, the report = stated=20 that "MNR manages<BR>>a [black] bear hunt which harvests about = 7,000=20 bears annually.<BR>>Although MNR has put out news releases estimating = the=20 Ontario bear<BR>>population at 75,000 to 100,000 individuals, the = ministry=20 has not<BR>>publicly released any reports on bear population=20 numbers."<BR>><BR>>A lack of enforcement of sustainable = industrial=20 activities.<BR>><BR>>It has been clearly documented that the = Ontario=20 government is not<BR>>effectively monitoring or enforcing sustainable = use of=20 the province's<BR>>forest resources by industry. In October, 1998, = the=20 Ontario court of<BR>>appeal upheld a February, 1998 decision brought = forward=20 by<BR>>environmental groups against the government of Ontario that it = was=20 in<BR>>violation of its own Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The=20 judges<BR>>condemned the government for failing to abide by its own=20 requirements<BR>>to provide for the habitat needs for sensitive = wildlife=20 species such<BR>>as American marten and pileated woodpeckers (both of = which=20 succeed<BR>>best in areas with mature forests.) The government was = also found=20 in<BR>>violation of planning requirements necessary for the=20 long-term<BR>>sustainability of the forest.<BR>><BR>>Recent = reports=20 prepared with the participation of the forest industry<BR>>and senior = MNR=20 management have advocated long-term tenure on public<BR>>lands for = industry,=20 in fact suggesting that compensable tenure in<BR>>perpetuity would be = desirable.<BR>><BR>>Where we are at today?<BR>><BR>>Contrary = to the=20 precautionary principle, the Lands For Life Round<BR>>Tables have = suggested=20 only slight increases to Ontario's protected<BR>>areas system, and = have used=20 points consistently raised by industry<BR>>representatives to support = their=20 position. Present forest management<BR>>and Round Table = recommendations=20 suggest the following erroneous<BR>>assumptions about conservation=20 biology:<BR>><BR>>X Ecologically representative protected areas = that are=20 off-limits to<BR>>commercial forestry and mining are not necessary to = conserve<BR>>biodiversity. The only protected areas that are = necessary are=20 very<BR>>small sites to protect unique or rare values (such as = heronries,=20 eagle<BR>>nests, shorelines of coldwater streams = etc.)<BR>><BR>>X=20 Industrial manipulation of forest cover under = increasingly<BR>>intensive=20 harvest regimes will mimic natural disturbance patterns over<BR>>the = entire=20 forest landscape.<BR>><BR>>X Modern/current industrial harvest = methods=20 duplicate fire, insect<BR>>outbreak, wind throw and = disease.<BR>><BR>>X=20 Industrial clearcutting will perpetuate high quality=20 wildlife<BR>>habitat.<BR>><BR>>X Landscape, species, genetic = and stand=20 structural diversity will be<BR>>maintained through large area = clearcutting,=20 (the harvest method used<BR>>in 95% of forest harvesting in Ontario = (MNR=20 Annual Report, '94-'95)<BR>><BR>>X Secondary impacts of logging = such as a=20 permanent road access<BR>>network, over fishing, over hunting and = erosion are=20 not thought to be<BR>>significant negative impacts on=20 biodiversity.<BR>><BR>>X Industrial uses such as mining and large = scale=20 hydo-electric<BR>>development have insignificant impacts on=20 biodiversity.<BR>><BR>>X It was recommended that the total = landbase be=20 available to<BR>>industry and that the concept of floating (or = rotating)=20 reserves be<BR>>used to complete the protected areas system. This = designation=20 involves<BR>>creating a park, and then removing it if industry = requires it=20 for<BR>>logging or mining operations.<BR>><BR>>In keeping with = these=20 opportunistic, unsubstantiated claims, the Round<BR>>Tables = recommended the=20 following new protected areas as a percentage<BR>>of the total = planning=20 area:<BR>><BR>>Proposed new Provincial Parks 272,385 ha.=20 (0.6%)<BR>>Proposed new Conservation Reserves 430,506 ha.=20 (1.0%)<BR>>Total: All areas 702,891 ha. (1.6%)<BR>><BR>>This = includes=20 72 Provincial Parks and 199 Conservation Reserves<BR>>for a total of = 271=20 areas with an average area of 2,257 ha. More than a<BR>>dozen = proposed parks=20 in one of the planning regions are smaller than<BR>>100=20 hectares.<BR>><BR>>Other Disturbing Aspects of the Round Table=20 Recommendations<BR>><BR>>· Five members of the Round tables = refused=20 to sign the<BR>>recommendations. Their letters and reasons for not = signing=20 were<BR>>excluded from the consolidated report released on October = 30th.=20 The<BR>>only reference to their concerns is found at the end of = Section=20 2.5<BR>>where they are referenced as "exceptions to = consensus".=20 Although it is<BR>>not stated, the reason that several of the members = did not=20 sign is<BR>>because the Round Tables did not keep to their mandate to = complete a<BR>>protected areas system.<BR>><BR>>· There = are no=20 recommendations to increase the level of protection<BR>>standards for = provincial parks or conservation reserves, only to<BR>>weaken=20 them.<BR>><BR>>· The Round Tables admit that they failed to = achieve=20 the goal of<BR>>completing the parks and protected areas system = (Section 6.1)=20 as<BR>>required by the Provincial government.<BR>><BR>>· = The=20 Round Tables admit that they failed to identify areas that = will<BR>>be used=20 for intensive or enhanced forestry.<BR>><BR>>· Included in = the 242=20 recommendations to government are the following<BR>>additional issues = of=20 conservation concern:<BR>><BR>>· It is recommended that = protected=20 conservation reserves (like the<BR>>Ranger North old growth pine area = in the=20 Algoma Highlands and the<BR>>Kaladar Jack Pine Barrens on Highway #7) = be made=20 available for mining.<BR>><BR>><BR>>· It has been = recommended=20 that commercial trapping be used<BR>>to "control populations and = combat=20 disease" in provincial park<BR>>wilderness zones and nature=20 reserves.<BR>><BR>>· It is recommended that the lakes in = parks be=20 intensively managed to<BR>>produce more fish for=20 anglers.<BR>><BR>>· It is recommended that hunting be=20 "enhanced" in conservation<BR>>reserves through = "proactive=20 habitat and game population management."<BR>><BR>>We hope = that this=20 brief summary has provided you with sufficient<BR>>background = information to=20 add your signature to the Statement of<BR>>Conservation Concern. For = more=20 information, please contact:<BR>><BR>>The Partnership For Public=20 Lands<BR>>Phone: 1-888-371-LAND<BR>>Website:=20 www.web.net/wild<BR>><BR>>The consolidated Round Table report is = available=20 from the<BR>>Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources=20 website:<BR>>www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/lfl<BR>><BR>><BR>>Kevin=20 Kavanagh<BR>>Senior Manager, Conservation Science<BR>>Endangered = Spaces=20 Campaign<BR>>World Wildlife Fund Canada<BR>>90 Eglinton Ave. East, = Suite=20 504<BR>>Toronto, Ontario<BR>>M4P 2Z7 CANADA<BR>>(416) 489-4567 = ext. 262=20 (Tel)<BR>>(416) 489-3611=20 (FAX)<BR>>kkavanagh@wwfcanada.org<BR>><BR></BODY></HTML>
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