Ancient Forest Research Report No. 13

The Gawgige-Jiwong (Forever Flowing Water) Pristine Watershed,
Lower Spanish Forest, Ontario

In the summer of 1993, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research (AFER) conducted a fine-filter field survey to determine if the Gawgige-Jiwong Watershed located in Solski, Tofflemire and Oullette Townships in Ontario's Lower Spanish Forest is pristine (unlogged) (see watershed map). It is the largest known complete watershed dominated by old-growth red and eastern white pine forest (35% of the forest cover - Table 1) at 3,500 ha (see photographs of its headwaters - Fig. 1). In 1993, less than 5% of the watershed had been logged in a small portion near the Spanish River - the remainder was pristine.

Since E.B. Eddy purchased a mill the Sault Ste. Marie area that is tooled for cutting white and red pine lumber, they have been sending these species from the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape to the mill. Because E.B. Eddy continues to cut endangered old-growth pine, AFER and OPIRG sent letters to their managers in an effort to stop this logging (see attached letters). At the very minimum, this logging should cease until the Provincial Lands for Life Public Consultation concludes and recommendations for land protection are submitted to the Minister of Natural Resources by the Citizen's Committee (Round Table). Logging these forests precludes any consideration of their natural heritage value as part of this current Lands for Life process.

George Weston Ltd., the parent corporation of E.B. Eddy, claims to be concerned with protecting the environment (see attached environmental policy statements), however, they press on with their logging of Ontario's endangered old-growth red and eastern white pine forests [E.B. Eddy has subsequently been bought by Domtar, with no discernible change in policies]. As is so often the case with natural resource extraction industries, policy commitments to protect the environment are simply hollow words that create a mirage of concern and action.

The Lower Spanish Pine Landscape is the world's largest concentration of pristine, endangered red and eastern white pine forest and as such, should be designated as a provincial park. Until George Weston Ltd. and E.B. Eddy support such initiatives, they will continue to occupy a position of ethical immorality within modern society. They would do well to look beyond our weak conservation laws and heed the prophetic words of Aldo Leopold (1949, pg. 224):

Table 1. List of Forest Stands in the Gawgige-Jiwong Watershed with 50% Dominance or More of One Species

Figure 1. Photographs of the Headwaters of the Gawgige-Jiwong Watershed

Reference

Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press, New York. 226 pp.

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