Say NO to the Forestry Exemption to the Endangered Species Act!

Send a letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and tell them it is unacceptable for the forest industry to be exempt from the progressive Endangered Species Act.

Please feel free to add your own comments and to edit the content of the fax below as you see fit.

Date:
To:	Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources
Subject:	Subject: Forestry Exemption to the Endangered Species Act

Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources
99 Wellesley Street West, Room 6630, Whitney Block, Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3
Fax: 416-325-5316

Re: Protecting Ontario's Biodiversity

Dear Minister Cansfield,

The list of species at risk in Canada is growing every year, reflecting an increased rate of deforestation, and an unparalleled rate of habitat loss.  There are nearly 580 species at risk in Canada, and nearly 3 of these exist in Ontario.  This is An extremely high number of species that could face extirpation if strong protection measures are not implemented; I am calling on your government to address this biodiversity loss with swift decisive action. 
  
As Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller revealed in his most recent report, "The Last Line of Defence: A Review of Ontario's New Protections for Species at Risk", habitat loss, including alteration and fragmentation is the main threat for approximately two-thirds of Ontario's species at risk.  The lack of sustainable forestry operations, coupled with the lack of contiguous land that is off limits to industrial development, is forcing more and more species closer to the brink of extirpation both in the southern and northern parts of the province.

Revising the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is an important first step.  The ESA makes important strides, but I am concerned about some of the permissive language which is at odds with the Act's original intent and spirit.  As the Environmental Commissioner points out, the OMNR has been given the power to permit activities that may be destructive to habitat, even if it is clear that this ecosystem is essential for species at risk.  This non-transparent permitting process has the potential to seriously impede the ability of this legislation to achieve its stated purposes.

At the corse of the ESA is the requirement that decisions regarding species at risk are based on the best available science and that species at risk are not compromised by economic or other considerations.  Currently, the responsibility to uphold many aspects of the Act will be dependent on internal decisions made within the OMNR and not necessarily upon scientific findings or the specific needs of species at risk.

As our population increases, and as the pressures of urbanization and climate change push species further from their original range, the urgency for comprehensive protection of biodiversity becomes greater.  In Southern Ontario the Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the last places of refuge for species on the brink of extinction even though only 30% of it is forested. There are so few large areas of forest left in southern Ontario that the Moraine has become even more crucial for the survival of many threatened species.  We need greater connectivity between our remaining stands of forest to help facilitate the movement of species as the climate changes and other pressures increase.

A key facet of sustainable forestry involves restricting logging in areas where old-growth remains.  It also means identifying crucial habitat for species at risk (like the Woodland Caribou) and establishing areas that are completely off limits to industrial activity to protect them.   Many species facing extirpation are found within our remaining forests and need to be afforded due protection to ensure their status improves. 
In Ontario, there is a lack of habitat protection for keystone species like wolves.  By protecting the habitat of these essential species we can ensure that diverse ecosystems are protected as well. Indicator species are integral to biodiversity preservation and natural ecosystem functions.

As a concerned steward for Ontario's forests and greenspaces, I urge you to take the needs of species at risk into consideration for all land-use decisions in the province: protecting Ontario's biodiversity must be the main priority.

Sincerely,


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