During the Review of the Draft Forest Management Plan, review and comment from the public is being sought regarding forest operations planned to occur during the first five years of the forest management plan. The public comment period extends from September 5, 2008 until November 3, 2008. The Ministry of Natural Resources is collecting comments and information regarding this forest management plan under authority of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to assist in making decisions and determining future public consultation needs. Comments and opinions will be kept on file for use during the operating term of the forest management plan and may be included in study documentation which is made available for public review.

To view the posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights please click here.
 

To review the summary of the draft forest managment plan, please click here:

 Temagami Draft Forest Management Plan (3.69 MB) 

Take Action Now!

Planning continues for the next phase of forest management in Temagami (2009 - 2019).  Many key old growth areas are slated for logging and we need your voice to speak out for increased protection of Temagami's wilderness!  Public pressure has stopped logging in Temagami before, and it can do so again.  Let the government know that you oppose the logging of Temagami’s old-growth forests.  Please tell the Ministry of Natural Resources that:

•    All logging of Temagami’s old-growth pine must cease.
•    Logging must be phased out of the western backcountry.
•    Sacred sites, like Spirit Rock, must be protected and buffered from all harvesting operations.
•    Recreational buffers and viewscapes must be maintained at their current levels.

Direct your comments to the Ministry of Natural Resources before November 3rd, 2008 (be sure to include EBR# 010-0008):

Robert Baker, Planning Forester
Ministry of Natural Resources - Field Services Division
Northeast Regional Office - North Bay District Office
3301 Trout Lake Road
North Bay, ON   P1A 4L7

Fax: 705-475-5595

Alternately, feel free to use our template letter, which can be found at (please modify the text to reflect your personal views):  http://www.earthroots.org/index.php/Temagami-Template-Letter.html

Or you can use our free fax action centre at (please modify the text to reflect your personal views):
http://www.earthroots.org/index.php/Temagami-Fax-Centre.html

In accordance with the provisions of the FMPM, formal public consultation is planned to occur at five stages during the preparation, review and approval of this plan. The FMPM sets out that direct written notice is required to be given to certain individuals and organizations at each stage of the planning process; individuals and organizations may request to be added to this list, which is updated at each stage. Public notice is given through advertisements in local newspapers.

The following is a summary of the public consultation:

Stage One - Invitation to Participate: February 28, 2007

Stage Two – Review of Long Term Management Direction: January 18, 2008.

Stage Three – Information Centres – Review of Proposed Operations: April 15, 2008

Stage Four – Information Centres – Review of Draft Plan: September 5, 2008- November 3, 2008

Key materials associated with the proposed operations during the first five years of the 2009-2019 forest management plan can be viewed at the following locations, between September 5, 2008 and November 3, 2008:

Temiskaming Shores Public Library
50 Whitewood Avenue
New Liskeard,ON
705-647-4215

Temagami Public Library
Temagami Welcome Centre, Lakeshore Drive
Temagami, ON
705-569-2945

There is one other formal public consultation opportunity tentatively scheduled as follows:

Stage Five - Public inspection of approved FMP: December, 2008

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing April 1, 2009.

All comments and submissions received for Stages One to Four will be considered as part of the decision-making by the ministry. Under the public consultation provisions of the FMPM, a written response will be provided to all written comments and submission, and upon request, to all verbal comments. All comments and submissions will become part of the public record. Stage Five is an inspection period only. No comments are being sought at that stage.

There is an opportunity during the forest management planning process to seek resolution of issues with the MNR District Manager or the MNR Regional Director in accordance with the process described in Part A, Section 3.4.1 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2004).

During the 30-day inspection period, commencing in December 2008 and ending in January 2009, any person may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment, for an individual environmental assessment of specific proposed forest management activities in the forest management plan. A response to a request for an individual environmental assessment will normally be provided after the completion of the 30-day inspection period.

For more information about Earthroots' Temagami campaign please click here or contact Mike McIntosh at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it