Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
ABR Invited To Meet With Board Chairs To Discuss "Lightening the Footprint of Logging" . . . October 22, 2008 ... ABR News Item
The ABR Executive Committee has been invited to meet with the Chairs of the Ontario Parks Board of Directors and the Algonquin Forestry Authority Board of Directors to discuss "Lightening the Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Provincial Park", during the last week of October.
Four of the ABR Executive Committee's seven members are scheduled to attend the meeting.
For background information, following is the long-term sequence of events involved.
2004
Ministry of Natural Resources released the discussion paper ...
It's In Our Nature .. A Shared Vision for Parks and Protected Areas Legislation (1.5 mb PDF)
For the above protected areas legislation review, the Ontario Parks Board of Directors (public advisory committee) was required to ...
- review the legislative proposals;
- review input received through consultation;
- meet with stakeholders upon request;
- and provide written recommendations to the Minister of Natural Resources.
2005 (April)
The Ontario Parks Board of Directors released its recommendations ...
Fulfilling The Promise .. Recommendations of the Ontario Parks Board Re: "It's In Our Nature" (884 kb PDF)
The Board made a specific recommendation that the Minister of Natural Resources should commission an independent review of Algonquin Provincial Park including the park's role in the protected areas network, the management and goals of the park, and the park's legislative and governance framework. They also recommended the review be initiated within one year. in light of pressures on the park.
2005 (April)
The Minister of Natural Resources asked the Ontario Parks Board of Directors to provide advice on how to lighten the ecological footprint of logging in Algonquin Provincial Park (Algonquin). The Board accepted the assignment and began gathering input, advice and technical support from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Algonquin Forestry Authority (AFA).
2005 (October 25)
The proposed parks and protected areas legislation - Bill 11: The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act - was introduced in the Ontario Legislature for First Reading. When introducing the Bill the Minister stated that the Ontario Parks Board of Directors was going to provide advice about how to lighten the footprint of logging in Algonquin.
2006 (January 11)
The Ontario Parks Board of Directors Chair and other members met with the Minister and MNR's Deputy Minister. The Board's provisional concept for lightening the footprint was presented. At this meeting the Minister expressed interest in the provisional concept and requested that the Board develop the concept more fully. It was agreed that further development should include an analysis wood supply impacts and discussions with MNR and the AFA about how to mitigate any potential impacts on wood supply.
2006 (September & October)
Support documentation provided to the Ontario Parks Board of Directors .. by Ontario Parks, South Planning Unit and KBM Forestry Consultants.
Wood Supply Analysis of Zoning Changes Proposed by the Ontario Parks Board of Directors' Algonquin Park Subcommittee (640 kb PDF)
Algonquin Park Forest Wood Supply Analysis Evaluation (282 kb PDF)
2006 (October 27)
The Ontario Parks Board of Directors presented its Preliminary Proposals to the Minister of the MNR. The Minister asked the Board to work with MNR and the AFA to develop final recommendations.
2007 (May 2)
The Ontario Parks Board of Directors' combined report and recommendations were released to the public on May 2nd, 2007 and was entitled: Recommendations of the Ontario Parks Board - Lightening The Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Provincial Park (4 mb PDF).
That release was subsequently followed by the very detailed original version of the Board Recommended Zoning By Component (18.2 mb PDF) map file.
2008 (February)
The Minister of Natural Resources asked the Ontario Parks Board of Directors and the Algonquin Forestry Authority Board of Directors to prepare joint recommendations for lightening the ecological footprint of logging in Algonquin Park for her consideration.
2008 (March 31)
The ABR Executive Committee sent a letter of support for specific components of the Recommendations of the Ontario Parks Board - Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin, to the Minister of Natural Resources. .
2008 (May 8)
The ABR Executive Committee received a letter from Donna Cansfield (Minister of Natural Resources) in response to the its letter of support for the Recommendations of the Ontario Parks Board - Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin.
2008 (October 16)
The ABR Executive Committee was invited to meet with the Chairs of the Ontario Parks Board of Directors and the Algonquin Forestry Authority Board of Directors to discuss "Lightening the Footprint", during the week of October 29th.
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