Sudbury – Today 17 conservation organizations and businesses launch the new Wolf Lake Coalition to save the world’s largest old-growth red pine forest. This exceptional place, located within Sudbury city limits, is in peril more than 13 years after Ontario promised to protect the 300 year-old pines. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is proposing to reduce protection in the heart of the Wolf Lake Old Growth Forest Reserve to encourage mineral exploration. The Wolf Lake Coalition is calling on the government of Ontario to honour its promise to fully protect Wolf Lake as part of the Chiniguchi Waterway Provincial Park.

The new Wolf Lake Coalition has an online home at SaveWolfLake.org.

“The Wolf Lake pine stand is a cultural jewel that connects today’s generation to the very resources that created Sudbury in the past,” said Franco Mariotti of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Green Space Advisory Panel. “To not protect the Wolf Lake old growth site is to deny future generations of this truly unique natural asset. It would be a denial of our historic past and a short -sighted vision of our future.”

The Green Space Advisory Panel, which is appointed by Sudbury City Council to provide advice on their Green Space Strategy, last week urged the city to afford Wolf Lake permanent protection as the city’s newest Ecological Reserve.

Red pine is one of Ontario’s most iconic tree species; a signature of our cherished northern landscape. Red pine forests once covered much of eastern North America, including what is now downtown Sudbury. These ancient forests remain on only 1.2% of their original extent, making them a critically endangered ecosystem.

The Wolf Lake stand is the largest remaining example of this ecosystem — more than triple the size of the next largest remnant.

We know of nothing like it that exists anywhere else.

“If we don’t act now to fully protect Wolf Lake, then we lose the opportunity to enjoy the economic and ecological benefits of this unique forest,” said Bob Olajos of the Friends of Temagami.  “What we have at Wolf Lake cannot be replicated elsewhere.”

CONTACT
Franco Mariotti, Wolf Lake Coalition, 705-522-3701 ext. 244
Bob Olajos, Friends of Temagami, 705-499-0692

WOLF LAKE COALITION MEMBERS

• Ancient Forest Exploration and Research
• Association of Youth Camps on Temagami Lakes
• BAM North Productions
• Camp Keewaydin
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley
• Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury
• The Council of Canadians
• Earthroots
• Friends of Temagami
• Friends of the LaVase Portages
• Lake Temagami Group
• Nipissing Environmental Watch
• Ontario Rivers Alliance
• Paddle Canada
• Rob Nelson Photography
• Temagami Lakes Association
• Wild Women Expeditions

References

PDF
Coalition forms to protect Wolf Lake old-growth forest

"Perfection" - photo by P.J. Healy

Andrew Healy, President TLA

The combination of the old-growth forests and mining rights that surround Wolf Lake have been a hot topic of debate over the last ten years, but never so much as in the last week. Following an article – Ontario breaks Temagami pledge  – on the front page of the Toronto Star, concerned citizens and environmental groups are speaking out against the removal of protected area status for what is believed to be the largest remaining stand of old-growth red pine forest.

For those of you lucky enough to travel to this area, which is just a short 5 or 6 day paddle from Lake Temagami, you will understand what the fight is about. As a guide for Camp Wabun, I have set off from Lake Temagami for Wolf Lake on a few occasions, each time the white granite ridges, aqua blue waters and towering pines form one of the lasting memories for my campers, just as it did with me at their age.

Many TLA members, including Temagami Youth Camps and Friends of Temagami have been actively speaking out to protect Wolf Lake. The TLA supports our members in this campaign, and will be monitoring the story closely as important decisions are made by the province early next week.

Stay tuned!