Forest Landscape Baseline No. 12
Brief Progress and Summary Reports 1996
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Forest Landscape Baseline No. 12 Brief Progress and Summary Reports 1996 | |
CHARACTERISTICS OF ANCIENT FOREST LANDSCAPES
LARGER THAN 20,000 HECTARES IN THE
LAKE TEMAGAMI SITE REGION OF ONTARIO
P. A. Quinby, T. Lee, C. Schultz and J. Powers
Introduction
Both the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed to establishing a network of reserves to represent the common and unique features of Ontario's natural heritage, which includes the Lake Temagami Site Region (LTSR). Currently, only about six percent of the land base in the LTSR has been set aside in protected areas. To meet the minimum of 12 percent protection as stated in the Canadian Wilderness Charter (Hummel 1989), as much as 300,000 additional hectares of protected area may be required to adequately represent the natural heritage of the LTSR's five million hectares. The objective of this project was to identify the ancient (unlogged and roadless) forest landscapes in the LTSR as a first step towards meeting this additional need for natural heritage protection. By identifying the largest natural areas that remain in the region, this work provides significant information for protected areas planning and outdoor recreation development.Ancient forest landscapes (AFLs) are the most natural portions of our forested areas. They are the combination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that have developed together and interact within a region. In addition to forests, they include the lakes, streams, wetlands, and non-forested terrestrial ecosystems that make up the entire landscape. Their common characteristic is their natural integrity. Because of natural barriers, ruggedness of the terrain, management choices, or mere fluke, they have not been altered by logging, mining, or hydroelectric development, and their original species composition and ecosystem processes are maintained throughout the mosaic of forests and other habitats.
MethodsAncient forest landscapes in the LTSR were identified by determining the extent of logged-over areas, roads, railway lines, mining, and hydro-electric development (see Table 1 for AFL characteristics). The extent of these human activities was determined by (1) examining records available at government offices, (2) inter-viewing knowledgeable experts, and (3) using a variety of thematic maps that are available for purchase. The minimum landscape area identified for an AFL was 20,000 hectares, with the narrowest connections between any two portions of an AFL no less than 500 metres wide. The decision to choose 20,000 hectares as the minimum size criterion was largely a pragmatic one. Although much larger areas have been suggested as the minimum required to be self-regulating - in some cases as much as 500,000 hectares (Hackman 1989).
Forest cover in each AFL was characterized using the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps available in September 1993. Ten percent of the FRI stands within each landscape were sampled to estimate the relative abundance of each tree species in each AFL. The number and area of stands with more than 30 percent red and white pine greater than 50 years of age were estimated using the GIS based Ranking System for Pine (GRASP) program (Baldwin et al. 1994).
Geologists with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines provided information on active and closed mines, and on the mining potential within each AFL. The number of identified potential mineral deposits is indicated in Table 1. Protected areas in the LTSR were included if they had legal protected status, were greater than 250 hectares, and had a significant component of natural ecosystem protection (e.g. recreational parks that do not provide biodiversity protection were not included).
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources staff in the LTSR provided qualitative information on historical logging based on unique sources of information or personal knowledge of the areas. This was particularly valuable for those districts which did not have complete logging records prior to the 1970's. Most districts also provided anecdotal information on logging prior to the late 1950's. This information did not provide exact locations of cutting and consequently was not used as a criterion for excluding areas from any of the AFLs. However, areas that had likely been logged in the past were indicated on the AFL maps.
Table 1. Characteristics of large ancient forest landscapes in the Lake Temagami Site Region (Bw - white birch; Sb - black spruce; Po - poplar; Mh - sugar maple; Pj - jack pine; Sw - white spruce; B - balsam fir; C.R. - conservation reserve; W.P. - waterway park; R.P. - recreation park; Wl.P. - wilderness park; R. - river; C. - creek; L. - lake; 4E-1 - Michipicoten Site District; 4E-3 - Mississagi Site District; 4E-4 - Temagami Site District)
| AFL | Area (ha) | Common Tree Species | Stands with 30% Pw/Pr | Mineral Occurrence | Protected Areas Name/Size (ha)/% of AFL |
| 1 | 18,800 | Bw, Sb, Po | 0.3 | none | none |
| 2 | 53,000 | Bw, Sb, Mh | 0.1 | none | Tikamaganda C.R./ 3,000/ 5.7 |
| 3 | 39,200 | Bw, Po, Sb | 0.2 | none | none |
| 4 | 20,100 | Po, Sb, Pj | 0.0 | yes (10) | none |
| 5 | 161,400 | Pj, Bw, Sw | 4.9 | none | Mississagi River W.P./ minor |
| 6 | 63,000 | Pj, Po, Bw | 0.1 | none | Mississagi River W.P./ minor |
| 7 | 43,200 | Pj, Sb, Bw | 0.3 | none | Bark Lake C.R./ 8,000/ 18.5 |
| 8 | 43,600 | Sb, Bw, Po | 0.4 | yes (19) | none |
| 9 | 38,500 | Sb, Bw, Pj | 0.0 | yes (3) | Mississagi River W.P./ minor |
| 10 | 50,000 | Sb, Po, Bw | 0.0 | yes (1) | Biscotasi Lake R.P./ 1,238/ 2.5 |
| 11 | 25,000 | Pj, Po, Bw | 0.0 | none | none |
| 12 | 55,800 | Pj, Bw, Sb | 0.0 | yes (1) | none |
| 13 | 21,000 | Sb, Bw, Po | 0.0 | none | none |
| 14 | 27,600 | Pj, Bw, Sb | 0.0 | yes (3) | none |
| 15 | 23,200 | Pj, Bw, Sb | 0.0 | yes (10) | none |
| 16 | 77,700 | Bw, Sb, Po | 0.1 | yes (1) | none |
| 17 | 22,900 | Bw, Pj, Sb | 0.8 | yes (3) | none |
| 18 | 30,900 | Pj, Bw, Po | 0.1 | yes (5) | none |
| 19 | 21,800 | Pj, Bw, Po | 0.0 | yes (8) | none |
| 20 | 31,600 | Bw, Po, Pj | 0.0 | yes (5) | none |
| 21 | 33,700 | Sb, B, Pj | 0.1 | yes (5) | Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wl.P./ minor |
| 22 | 72,700 | Bw, Sb, B | 0.3 | yes (7) | Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wl.P & Solace |
| 23 | 69,700 | Sb, Bw, B | 0.0 | yes (3) | River W.P. & Sturgeon Riv. W.P./40% Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wl.P & Obabika River W.P./ 50% |
The recent fire history of each AFL was determined using records available from the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie showing the fire occurrences greater than 200 hectares between 1920 and 1995 in the LTSR. Because our estimates of area burned in each AFL are based on "known" fires and many small fires go undetected, they are likely underestimates. Large rivers and lakes that have their headwaters within an AFL were listed.
The extent to which each AFL can contribute to natural heritage protection in the LTSR was based on analysis of the spatial coincidence of AFLs with soil landscapes shown on the Gap Analysis of Present Landform Status in Ontario Map (WWFC 1995). From this map it was possible to estimate the amount of area within each AFL covered by (1) moderately represented soil landscapes, (2) partially represented soil landscapes and (3) unrepresented soil landscapes (WWFC 1994) (Table 2).
Results
The 23 large AFLs in the LTSR combine for a total of 1,044,400 hectares - approximately one-fifth of the total LTSR area. The most common tree species in the AFLs include white birch, black spruce, poplar, jack pine, white spruce, balsam fir and sugar maple. Only one AFL had more than one percent of its stands composed of at least 30% white and red pine (#5). Significant mineral occurrences are located within 15 of the 23 AFLs, ranging from one to 19 occurrences per AFL. Only eight
Table 1. Con't.
| AFL | Historical Logging | Fire Year | % Burned | Significant Headwaters | Site District(s) |
| 1 | yes | 1955 | 6-10 | none | 4E-1, 4E-3 |
| 2 | yes | 1934,34,48,55 | 1-5,1-5,11-15,<1 | Indian R., Tikamaganda L., Tikamaganda R.,Eleven Mile R., Wildcherry C. | 4E-3 |
| 3 | none | 1948 | 6-10 | Cow R., Nushatogani R., West Aubinadong R., Aubinadong R. | 4E-3 |
| 4 | none | none | Kinogama R. | 4E-3 | |
| 5 | likely | 1922,39,39,47,48 | <1,<1,1-5,<1,51-55 | Spanish R., North Abinette R., West Abinette R., Mississagi R., Embarass R. | 4E-3 |
| 6 | none | 1948,55,55 | 71-75,11-15,1-5 | Kindiogami R., Little Kindiogami R. | 4E-3 |
| 7 | none | 1923, 55,55,88, 88 | <1,1-5,1-5,1-5,1-5 | Sables R., Wakonassin R. | 4E-3 |
| 8 | none | 1948,55 | 6-10,1-5 | Rush L. | 4E-3 |
| 9 | likely | none | Spanish R. | 4E-3 | |
| 10 | yes | none | Dead R., Biscotasi L, Tassie C., East Spanish R., | 4E-3 | |
| 11 | likely | 1922,47 | 1-5,1-5 | Spanish R. | 4E-3 |
| 12 | likely | 1957 | <1 | Mozhabong L, Wakonassin R., Sinaminda L., Pogamasing L., Mogo R. | 4E-3 |
| 13 | likely | 1921,41 | 6-10,11-15 | Tatachikapika L., Tatachikapika R., Katodawa C., | 4E-3 |
| 14 | yes | 1935,41 | 6-10,51-55 | Minisinakwa R. | 4E-3, 4E-4 |
| 15 | likely | 1936,41,51 | 6-10,96-100,6-10 | West Shining Tree C., Mattagami R. | 4E-3, 4E-4 |
| 16 | yes | 1923,32,34,47,51 | 1-5,1-5,1-5,1-5,1-5 | East Sand R., Donnegana L., Vondet C., Muldrew C., Wanapitei R., Scotia L. | 4E-3 |
| 17 | yes | 1921,41 | 1-5, 61-66 | Barnet L., Welcome L., Wanapitei R. | 4E-4 |
| 18 | likely | 1923,34,41 | 1-5,1-5,41-45 | Burwash L., Vermillion R., Parkin C. | 4E-4 |
| 19 | none | none | Sandcherry C., Venetian R., Nelson R., Wingekisinaw R. | 4E-4 | |
| 20 | none | 1921,21,41 | 1-5,1-5,76-80 | none | 4E-4 |
| 21 | none | 1936,44 | 11-15,26-30 | Sturgeon R., Montreal R. | 4E-4 |
| 22 | none | 1988 | <1 | Lady Evelyn R., Florence L., Yorston R., Sturgeon R. | 4E-4 |
| 23 | none | 1941,47,92 | 1-5,1-5,1-5 | Montreal R., Lady Evelyn R., Lady Evelyn L., Anima-Nipissing L. | 4E-4 |
Table 2. Potential contribution of large ancient forest landscapes towards protecting moderately protected to unprotected soil landscapes in the Lake Temagami Site Region (areas in hectares)
| AFL | Total Area | Area of Moderately Represented Soil Landscape | Area of Partially Represented Soil Landscape | Area of Unrepresented Soil Landscape |
| 1 | 18,800 | 9,400 | 9,400 | |
| 2 | 53,000 | 53,000 | ||
| 3 | 39,200 | 39,200 | ||
| 4 | 20,100 | 18,090 | 2,010 | |
| 5 | 161,400 | 145,260 | 16,140 | |
| 6 | 63,000 | 63,000 | ||
| 7 | 43,200 | 43,200 | ||
| 8 | 43,600 | 39,240 | 4,360 | |
| 9 | 38,500 | 38,500 | ||
| 10 | 50,000 | 50,000 | ||
| 11 | 25,000 | 25,000 | ||
| 12 | 55,800 | 55,800 | ||
| 13 | 21,000 | 7,350 | 13,650 | |
| 14 | 27,600 | 2,760 | 2,760 | 22,080 |
| 15 | 23,200 | 6,960 | 13,920 | 2,320 |
| 16 | 77,700 | 77,700 | ||
| 17 | 22,900 | 21,755 | 1,145 | |
| 18 | 30,900 | 23,175 | 7,725 | |
| 19 | 21,800 | 21,800 | ||
| 20 | 31,600 | 30,020 | 1,580 | |
| 21 | 33,700 | 28,645 | 5,055 | |
| 22 | 72,700 | 47,255 | 25,445 | |
| 23 | 69,700 | 62,730 | 6,970 | |
| ALL | 1,044,400 | 311,140 | 682,160 | 51,100 |
protected areas share some portion of their area with the 23 AFLs - between seven and eight percent of the total AFL area is protected. No single AFL is completely protected. Ten of the AFLs have no known historical logging (approximately 42%). At least 50 fires greater than 200 hectares distributed within 19 AFLs have burned between 1921 and 1992. A total of 47 large rivers and creeks have their headwaters located in 20 AFLs and 15 large lakes have their headwaters located within 10 AFLs. Most AFLs are located in the Mississagi and Temagami Site Districts. Only one AFL is located within the Michipicoten Site District. No AFLs were located within the Bachewana or New Liskeard Site Districts. The AFLs may provide up to 51,000 hectares towards protection of unrepresented soil landscapes in the LTSR, and many more towards protection of partially and moderately represented soil landscapes.
References
Baldwin, D.J.B., H.G. Godchalk, A.H. Perera and B.P. Mooney. 1994. GRASP: A GIS-Based Ranking System for Redand White Pine Forests in Ontario. Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Hackman, A. 1989. Ontario's Park System Comes of Age. In: Endangered Spaces: The Future for Canada's Wilderness,Ed. by M. Hummel, Key Porter Books Ltd., Toronto, Ontario. pp. 165-182.
Hummel, M. (Ed.). 1989. Canadian Wilderness Charter. In: Endangered Spaces: The Future for Canada's Wilderness,Key Porter Books, Ltd., Toronto, Ontario. pp. 275.
World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWFC). 1994. A Protected Areas Gap Analysis Methodology: Planning for the Conservation of Biodiversity. WWFC, Toronto, Ontario. 68 pp.
World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWFC). 1995. Gap Analysis of Present Landform in Ontario Map. WWFC, Toronto, Ontario.
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