latest news

 

Wolf Lake Gathering Trip Report / July 2007

A meeting was held in July 2007 to discuss ways to help save the Wolf Lake Old Growth and include it in the Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial Park. You can read Norm Head's article about the gathering and the ideas that were discussed.

July 2007 Wolf Lake Gathering Trip Report by Norm Head




Wolf Lake Old Growth Red Pine under threat

The Wolf Lake area has become a popular paddling destination in recent years, largely due to the spectacular scenery that it offers. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that the Wolf Lake area represents the largest remaining Old Growth Red Pine forest in Canada - and most likely in the world. The trees that make up Wolf Lake's forests average 260 yeas in age and cover over 1600ha of land. The area has survived several major forest fires, mining and exploration activity, and even some localized logging, however, this magnificent pocket of Old Growth remains.

Today, however, this Old Growth forest is faced with a new threat. Due to the fact that existing mining claims overlap the entire Wolf Lake region, this area was left out of the Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial Park. This is particularly worrisome due to the fact that without the protection that only a Park would offer, the fate of these trees is uncertain.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources refers to this process as "disentanglement", and has yet to make a final decision on the fate of Wolf Lake's Old Growth forest. Will they include it in the Waterway Park? At the very least, will it hold it's current status of Forest Reserve? Only time will tell.

However, the time to speak up is now. Contact Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources at dcansfield.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org and voice your support for protection of Wolf Lake’s Old Growth forest.

Also see related stories:

Wolf Lake Old Growth Red Pine by Brian Back

Ancient Forest Exploration and Research

   
design by gj studios latest news about Chiniguchi about Friends of Chiniguchi how you can help multimedia related links archives contact us