KAWARTHA ACTION CENTRE

Fax to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Please feel free to edit the content of the fax below as you see fit.

Date:
To:	The Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources
Subject:	RE: Increased protection for the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park

The Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources
Room 6630, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St. West, Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3
Fax: 416-325-5316

Dear Minister Jeffrey,

I am very disappointed with the Ministry of Natural Resources' (MNR) decision to increase hunting opportunities and ATV use in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.  Allowing hunting in a protected area contravenes the Ontario provincial government's goal of improving biodiversity.  Due to the unrivalled rate of habitat loss and species decline that Ontario is currently experiencing, it is becoming increasingly important to have areas that are off limits to sport hunting.

Preserving biodiversity should be the government's overriding priority both in our protected areas and on crown land.  Our parks must provide protection not only for our wild spaces but also for the wildlife that depend on them; hunting has no place in our protected areas, especially when taking into consideration that it is already permitted on most of our crown land.  Kawartha Highlands is the largest protected area south of Algonquin Park and deserves increased protection.

Both the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Act and the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act 
emphasize the significance of preserving ecological integrity.  Since hunting is currently permitted in the majority of our protected areas, it seems impossible that ecological integrity can be properly upheld within them.  Furthermore, it is unclear how maintaining ecological integrity is being monitored.  Considering that only 12% of Ontario is composed of protected areas, the MNR should be focusing on protecting biodiversity, not opening up biologically important areas (like the Kawartha Highlands) to increased hunting opportunities.

Since the management plan for the park took the perspectives of such a broad range of stakeholders into consideration, the process took years to finalize.  One of the things that came out of the process was a "balanced" agreement on hunting.  The fact that the MNR is allowing more hunting in this ecologically sensitive area contradicts the notion of "balance" originally outlined in the plan.

The expanded hunting season does not just literally translate into more hunting opportunities – it means there will be an increase in permitted ATV use.  This destructive activity could open up access in remote areas of the Kawartha Highlands 
causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem.  The combination of sport hunting and off-road vehicle use is completely at odds with the urgent need to protect vulnerable species and wildlife habitat.

In spite of my criticism of the expanded hunting season and the increase in the number of species that can be hunted, I do want to commend you for removing wolves and coyotes from the list of species that can be hunted in the park.

I insist that the MNR re-evaluate their decision to increase hunting opportunities in the Kawartha Highlands, and assess how these high-impact, environmentally damaging activities can possibly fall under a park plan that places ecological integrity as the overriding principle.  It is imperative that the MNR prohibits sport hunting and motorized access in this biologically critical region.

Sincerely,


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