White and red pine forest was sought out wherever it stood by the lumbermen of the 18th, 19th and 20thcenturies. Few species of tree in North America have been so heavily exploited for so long. The Lower Spanish Pine Forest is the largest more or less contiguous tract of red and white pine forest in the world that remains untouched by logging.
Most of the 45,000 hectares of red and white pine forest in the Lower Spanish is pristine, or ancient. It is not as old as some parts of Temagami or Algoma. There are about 7,000 hectares of old growth in The lower Spanish Forest, which is a little more than a quarter of what is found in Temagami. But the Lower Spanish Forest is more ecologically intact than Temagami; it is the least fragmented red and white pine dominated forest in the world. There are still pristine roadless areas and a sense of wilderness. It is not uncommon to see otters, wolves, black bears, bald eagles, and nesting osprey.
However, E.B Eddy Forest Products Ltd. has allocated and is cutting a substantial portion of the ancient pine forest and the old growth. In the current five year plan, which finishes in the year 2000, over 10% (5,000 hectares) of the ancient pine forest was allocated for logging. And one quarter (1,700 hectares) of all the old growth was allocated, despite E.B. Eddy's stated commitment to sustainability
Time is running out on the Spanish Forest. Logging and road building have been increasing in the heart of the area over the past few years, and the area is rapidly being dissected.
Last year, E.B Eddy logged the headwaters of the largest pristine watershed in the Lower Spanish Forest. Ancient Forest Exploration and Research (an independent scientific organisation) had invested 6,000 hours of labour confirming that the area was pristine, and collecting baseline data. E.B. Eddy was made aware of this, but chose to disregard the information and go ahead with logging
The Lower Spanish Forest was a candidate for protection in Lands For
Life (a process initiated by the Ontario government to add new parks and
protected areas), but it continued to be logged while under consideration.
The Lower Spanish Forest can be accessed from the Spanish river, or from Agnew lake road, which turns north from highway 17 at Webwood. Four 150,000 maps cover the area: Cartier, Pogamasing, Mozhabong, and Madawanson. |
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Ancient Forest Exploration and Research 93 Westmoreland Ave., Toronto, M5V 3A8 |
