60-day comment period runs to November 3

The Ministry of Natural Resources released Temagami’s Draft 10-year Forest Management Plan for 2009-2019 yesterday amidst controversy.

Earthroots has called for a delay to the planning so that public concerns can be addressed.

In July, Temagami’s Local Citizens Committee, a MNR-appointed advisory board representing a broad cross-section of special interest groups, voted to condemn the draft plan. Such action is unprecedented in Ontario.

To cap it all off, a record seven requests for Issue Resolution have been filed with the MNR. These requests have been launched by cottagers’ associations, environmental groups, trail users, and tourist businesses upset with parts of the draft plan.

Friends of Temagami filed a request for Issue Resolution, citing concerns with increased road density, lack of protection for species at risk, increased reliance on large clearcuts, logging near Spirt Rock and Obabika River Provincial Park, and decreases to buffers on canoe routes, viewpoints, and heritage trails. At our first meeting on the issue with the MNR, it was apparent that they are unwilling to compromise.

There is now a 60-day period for the public to comment on the draft plan. We will post a sample letter here for you to send to the MNR. Past letter writing campaigns have netted impressive results, and now we need to keep up the pressure.

Moira Welsh with the Toronto Star wrote an extensive article on the issue. She interviewed FOT Vice President (and Earthroots campaigner) Mike McIntosh and FOT Board Member Bob Olajos. You can see her article here.

Articles also ran in the North Bay Nugget, Timmins Daily Press, and the Sault Star.

See the original Earthroots press release here.