PROVINCE RELEASES REPORT ON "LIGHTENING ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT" OF LOGGING IN ALGONQUIN PARK

For Immediate Release
May 02, 2007

PROVINCE RELEASES REPORT ON "LIGHTENING ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT" OF LOGGING IN ALGONQUIN PARK
Asks For Public Input On Recommendations

ALGONQUIN PARK — The Ontario government is seeking public comment on a report and recommendations from the Ontario Parks Board, aimed at reducing the effects of logging in Algonquin Provincial Park, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.

“Algonquin Park is one of Ontario’s natural wonders – a 7700-square-kilometre expanse of rugged wilderness, rocky vistas, forests, lakes and rivers with an exceptional diversity of plants and animals,” said Ramsay.  “Only 1.5 per cent of Algonquin’s forest is harvested annually but it’s crucial to the region’s economy.  We must balance this activity with protection and conservation of the park’s natural heritage, for future generations of Ontarians.”

The “Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Provincial Park” report makes three key recommendations: expanding the park’s protection zones to 54 per cent from 22 per cent of the park; implementing best management practices to reduce the impact of logging and beginning a pilot project to improve the accuracy of wood supply analysis and enhance forest management planning.

“I would like to thank and commend the members of the Ontario Parks Board for their hard work and dedication in producing this report,” said Ramsay.  “I encourage the public to review the recommendations and provide comments to the ministry.”

The report will be posted on the Environmental Registry for the next 45 days at ontario.ca/environmentalregistry, Registry Number 010-0445; comments are welcome. At the end of the posting period, the ministry will review the comments and determine an appropriate course of action, which may include beginning a process to amend the Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan that would involve full consultation with the public, Aboriginal communities and stakeholders. The resulting plan would guide the forest management planning process.

Related Information

• ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK

For More Information

Anne-Marie Flanagan
Minister’s Office
416-327-0654

Jolanta Kowalski
Communications Services Branch
416-314-2106

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)