Ancient Forest Research Report No. 8

ONTARIO'S LOWER SPANISH PINE LANDSCAPE:
THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRISTINE AREA OF
RED PINE AND EASTERN WHITE PINE FOREST

by

P. Quinby and F. McGuiness

1996

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the global significance of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape which is a 40,000 hectare pristine area with a semi-continuous cover of at least ten percent white and/or red pine forest. Although the research branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) recognizes the value of this global perspective, the operations branch of the OMNR continues to evaluate the natural heritage of old-growth white and red pine forest strictly from a provincial perspective. When the abundance of old-growth white pine forest is considered throughout its natural range compared to its abundance in Ontario, its rarity increases considerably. It is likely that the same holds for old-growth red pine forest. Forest experts in 30 political jurisdictions outside of Ontario were surveyed regarding their knowledge of pristine white and red pine forest landscapes within their province or state. According to our results, the largest landscape of this type outside of Ontario is the Five Ponds Wilderness Area of northern New York State at 2,000 hectares - only five percent of the size of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape. Although a consultant commissioned by the OMNR recommended that all areas of remaining old-growth white pine forest in the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape be protected, the OMNR has rejected this consulting report in favour of its own analysis. The OMNR recommends that 8,000 hectares (20 percent) of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape be strictly protected leaving the remaining 32,000 hectares of this pristine area to E.B. Eddy for logging. Although both the OMNR and E.B. Eddy have existing policies that call for protection of unique areas such as the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape, neither has agreed to protect the entire 40,000 hectares of pristine white and red pine forest landscape. It is doubtful that the short-term gains of logging this pristine landscape outweigh the long-term benefits of its recreational, tourism and ecological values that can be guaranteed ad infinitum through protection. The Wildlands League has identified the entire Lower Spanish Pine Landscape as one of Ontario's endangered spaces.

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Ontario Environmental Youth Corps
(Ministry of Natural Resources)
Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation

INTRODUCTION

Over a century of logging old-growth eastern white pine forest, which continues to this day primarily in Ontario, has left less than one percent of this now endangered ecosystem (Quinby 1993). Due to its similarity to eastern white pine in terms of range, habitat and exploitation history, it is highly likely that old-growth red pine forest is also an extremely rare ecosystem. Because of their extreme rarity; ecological, scientific, and economic value; and aesthetic appeal these old-growth ecosystems in Ontario have recently become the focus of much controversy (eg. Bray and Thompson 1990) and scientific study (Pinto 1989, Quinby 1989, White 1989, Day and Carter 1990a, Day and Carter 1990b, Iles 1990, Arbex Forest Development 1991, Quinby 1991a, Quinby 1991b, Carleton and Gordon 1992, Spectranalysis 1992, Welsh et al. 1992, Jensen 1993, Jones and Naylor 1993, Quinby 1993, Quinby and Giroux 1993, Carleton and Arnup 1994, Giroux 1994, Quinby 1994, Quinby and Suski 1995, Quinby et al. 1995a, Quinby et al. 1995b, Quinby et al. 1995c, Quinby and Lee in prep, Quinby et al. in prep).

Also recently, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Board (1994) specified that additional old-growth eastern white and red pine forests in Ontario should be protected. If we are to maximize the ecological integrity of protected areas, they should be large, at least 500,000 hectares in size, and as unmodified by human activities as possible (Hackman 1989). Due primarily to logging activities, however, pristine 500,000 hectare areas within Ontario's northern temperate forest are a thing of the past (eg. Quinby et al. 1995). Thus, the best that can be hoped for is to identify the largest remaining pristine landscapes and develop strategies to maintain their ecological integrity (Noss and Cooperrider 1994). Such strategies are most logically pursued on a natural region basis (World Wildlife Fund Canada 1995).

Ontario's largest continuous concentration of eastern white and red pine forests (stand age > 50 years; pine component > 10%) is found in the Lower Spanish Area which is centrally located in the Lake Temagami Site Region (LTSR) (Perera and Baldwin 1993) (Fig. 1). Approximately 40,000 hectares of pristine eastern white and red pine forest landscape remains in the Lower Spanish Area (Perera and Baldwin 1993, Quinby et al. 1995). This is far more pristine landscape than any other pine forest area in Ontario (Quinby and Giroux 1993). Accordingly, the entire area has been identified for protection on the Northern Ontario Endangered Spaces Map (Wildlands League 1995).

What is not currently known is the global significance of the 40,000 hectare Lower Spanish Pine Landscape. In other words, how does it compare to the same type of landscape within the 30 political jurisdictions outside of Ontario where these two forest types are (or once were) found? The research branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) recognizes this need for a global perspective to conserve the old-growth white and red pine forests of Ontario (Perera and Baldwin 1993). However, the operations branch of the OMNR continues to address white and red pine natural heritage as it exists only within the political boundaries of the Province of Ontario (Crins 1996). Restricting this assessment to Ontario ignores (1) more than 75 percent of the natural range of white and red pine and (2) existing information regarding the original and current amounts of old-growth white pine forest (Quinby 1993).

Only when the global significance of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape is determined will it be possible to develop an effective, scientifically-based strategy for the long-term protection of its ecological integrity. Some elements of this strategy will be applicable tomaintaining the integrity of other, smaller areas of ancient eastern white and red pine forest throughout their natural range.

Figure 1. Location of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape within the Lake Temagami Site Region (4E) of northern Ontario (from OMNR 1992)

The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of the ancient pine forest landscape of the Lower Spanish Area by comparing it to the same type of landscape throughout the natural geographical range of red and eastern white pine forests.

STUDY AREA

The natural geographical range of eastern white and red pine forests encompasses many political jurisdictions in Canada and the United States including Conneticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Natural range of red pine and eastern white pine in North America (from Burns and Honkala 1990)

METHODS

The information used in this study is based primarily on a survey of experts (eg. Noss et al. 1995) familiar with the ecological status of eastern white pine and red pine ecosystems in their own political jurisdictions. Expert information surveys have also been used to address a variety of issues in applied ecology including air pollution (Fraser et al. 1985), long-term ecological studies (Strayer et al. 1986), old-growth forest conservation (Quinby and Giroux 1993) and ecosystem assessment (Cleaves 1994).

Although the information was initially requested on a survey form (Appendix 2), it was also obtained through letters, facsimilies and telephone conversations. The survey form and accompanying letter (Appendix 1) described the criteria used in our identification of ancient pine landscapes, including stand age (50 years minimum) and composition (minimum 10% white pine or minimum 10% red pine or minimum 10% combined white and red pine). The survey requested information on any landscape fitting this description. Also specified was that all areas considered should have no historical record of logging activity within the landscape. Follow-up inquiries were made by telephone.

Work completed by Quinby et al. (1995a) after the survey form was sent out, found that the size of the pristine Lower Spanish Pine Landscape was actually 40,000 hectares as opposed to the 100,000 hectare estimate included in the survey letter. This revision did not reduce the quality of our results because the largest pristine pine forest landscape identified outside of Ontario was only approximately 2,000 hectares in size or five percent of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape area.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The individuals listed in Table 1 responded to the survey by providing expert information regarding pine forest landscapes in their political jurisdictions. No respondent had knowledge of any area fitting the survey criteria that is larger than the ancient pine landscape in the Lower Spanish Area. According to our results, the largest pristine pine forest landscape outside of Ontario is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area of northern New York State at 2,000 hectares. These results indicate that the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape (Fig. 3) includes the world's largest concentration of pristine eastern white pine and red pine forest. It is not only significantly large but is also representative of an endangered ecosystem that was once common from Manitoba to Newfoundland and from northern Ontario to northern Georgia (Fig. 2).

Numerous organizations, committees and advisory groups have addressed the need to protect the few remaining pristine forested landscapes at a variety of scales including the global level (World Resources Institute et al. 1992), the North American continental level (The Cenozoic Society 1992), the Canadian national level (Environment Canada 1986, Environment Canada 1989, Hummel 1989, World Wildlife Fund Canada 1995) the Ontario provincial level (Conservation Council of Ontario 1986, Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy 1990, Provincial Parks and Natural Heritage Policy Branch 1992, Ontario Forest Policy Panel 1993, Old Growth Forests Policy Advisory Committee 1994, Ontario Environmental Assessment Board 1994, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 1995, Wildlands League 1995), the Lake Temagami Site Region level (4E in Fig. 1) (Noble 1983, Gauthier et al. 1995,Quinby et al. 1995a) and the Mississagi Site District level (4E-3 in Fig. 1) (Geomatics International 1992, Geomatics International 1994, Wildlands League 1995).

Table 1. List of political jurisdictions and experts that responded to the continental white and red pine forest landscape survey

Figure 3. The Lower Spanish Pine Landscape located in central Ontario (adapted from Spectranalysis Inc. 1993)

The most detailed and state-of-the-art work addressing the issue of red and eastern white pine forest conservation in the Lower Spanish Area was the gap analysis conducted by Geomatics International (1994) for the Ontario Government. In this report, they stated that:

"Given the data available, all remaining old-growth white pine forest should be retained in order to maximise the representation of this once common habitat in 4E3."

Thus, they found that even if all the pristine eastern white and red pine forests remaining in the Mississagi Site District (4E-3 in Fig. 1) were protected from logging, the range of habitat and community types of these once common ecosystem types would not be represented.

Because of fundamental disagreement with these recommendations of Geomatics, particularly the recommendation to protect 15 large reserves including all remaining old-growth white and red pine forest in the site district, the OMNR conducted its own gap analysis of site district 4E-3. This OMNR analysis concluded that only 20 percent (approximately 8,000 hectares) of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape distributed within four proposed reserves should be set aside for strict natural heritage protection (Crins 1996). This leaves 32,000 hectares of pristine pine-dominated landscape available for logging. In addition, Crins (1996) admits that for at least two of the reserves, forest diversity is low and for one reserve, there are several old roads located within it, likely indicating historical logging.

Despite calls for the protection of rare ecosystems at all geographical scales throughout the world by numerous conservation organizations, logging of the pristine, endangered red and eastern white forest in the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape continues and is planned by E.B. Eddy (1995) for the next twenty years. The policy to allow the logging of an endangered ecosystem contradicts two primary elements of the most recent version of Ontario's crown land forest management policy. First, forest sustainability principle number four (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 1995a) states that:

It has been clearly shown that old-growth eastern white pine forest is an extremely rare ecosystem if not an endangered ecosystem (Quinby 1993). The same likely holds for old-growth red pine forests. For the 32,000 hectares of unprotected pine forest landscape in the Lower Spanish Area, the highly intensive activity of shelterwood logging, which removes approximately 50 percent of the tree biomass in the first cut and the rest in another cut 20 years later, will without doubt, reduce the long-term health and vigor of these endangered forest ecosystems.

Secondly, the recently developed Conservation Strategy for Old Growth Red and White Pine Forest Ecosystems in Ontario (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 1995b) states that:

The Geomatics International gap analysis (1994) clearly states that all remaining old-growth red and white pine forests in the 4E-3 site district should be protected.

In the absence of a provincial government committment to protect this globally unique area, one might turn to the forest industry given its recent proclamations of environmental stewardship. In 1990 E.B. Eddy, the forest operator in the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape, produced an Environmental Policy Statement explicitly stating the following (relevant excerpts only).

1. E.B. Eddy Forest Products is aware that sound environmental management practices are essential in maintaining a successful, fully integrated forest products enterprise.

2. The environment...is shared by all the people and serves a multitude of uses, from wildlife habitat, to a source of industrial raw materials.

3. ...Resources must be managed responsibly to protect the interests of all users.

4. Mere compliance with environmental regulations is not sufficient; E.B. Eddy will maintain environmental leadership by:
   • continually improving our environmental performance;

   • actively supporting research into environmental improvements;

   • actively promoting and supporting conservation projects at our operating locations; and

   • being direct and forthright in our communications.

To date, E.B. Eddy has not made a commitment to maintain the pristine character of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape despite their knowledge of its global significance (Quinby and Hall 1995). One can only conclude therefore, that their statement of environmental stewardship (E.B. Eddy 1990) has no relevance to the case of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape. In fact, it is most likely that their interest in the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape stems exclusively from their recent purchase of the Lajambe Forest Products mill located near Sault Ste. Marie which is tooled specifically for producing lumber from large white and red pine trees.

CONCLUSION

All major players involved in the protection of old-growth white and and red pine forests in Ontario - including OMNR, conservation organizations, ecological consultants and forest industry - agree that strict protection of these unique forest ecosystems is necessary. There is very significant disagreement, however, over the amount of protection required. By using current biodiversity theory (e.g. natural disturbance regimes and large carnivore territory requirements) Geomatics International (1994) has provided a very convincing argument for large area protection in the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape. The fact that the OMNR has rejected this scientifically rational and defenseable approach indicates that their natural heritage analyses involve more than the application of good science.

Although these other factors are not addressed by Crins (1996), it is likely that both economics and politics have influenced OMNR natural heritage decisions for the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape (Noss and Cooperrider 1994). Until OMNR analyses explicitly address these additional factors, conflict and disagreement over natural heritage decisions in Ontario will continue to plague a cooperative effort for natural heritage protection.

There is now overwhelming evidence both in terms of biogeography and ecological processes to support the complete protection of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape. This landscape is not only unique within Ontario but also has global significance. And in size, it falls within the 10,000 to 100,000 hectare minimum recommended by Geomatics International (1994) for maintaining ecological processes. It is doubtful that the short-term gains of logging this 40,000 hectare pristine pine landscape outweigh the long-term benefits of its recreational, tourism and ecological values that can be guaranteed ad infinitum through protection.

REFERENCES

Ambrose, J. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 20, 1995). Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, Georgia.

Arbex Forest Development Co. Ltd. 1991. Life Science Resource Features of Selected Areas Containing Old White and Red Pine (Site Region 4E - Ontario) - Volume I. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sudbury, Ontario. 113 pp.

Burns, R. M. and B. H. Honkala. 1990. Silvics of North America, Volume I, Conifers. Agric. Handbook, Forest Service, USDA. U.S. Gov't. Printing Office, Wash. D.C.

Carleton, T. J. and R. W. Arnup. 1994. Vegetation Ecology of Eastern White Pine and Red Pine Forests in Ontario. Forest Fragmentation and Biodiversity Project Report No. 11, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 262 pp.

Carleton, T. J. and A. M. Gordon. 1992. Understanding Old-Growth Red and White Pine Dominated Forests in Ontario. Forest Fragmentation and Biodiversity Project Report No. 2, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 215 pp.

Cleaves, D. A. 1994. Improving Expert Judgement in Ecosystem Assessment: Using Decision Science to Find Out What They Know and How Well They Know it. In: Creating Research, Education, and Management Partnerships Among Natural Resource Professionals, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Society Resource Management. Colorado State University, College of Natural Resources, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Craig, C. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated February 10, 1995). Natural Heritage Inventory, New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, Concord, New Hampshire.

Crins, W. J. 1996. Life Science Gap Analysis for Site District 4E-3. Ministry of Natural Resources, Central Region, Huntsville, Ontario. 66 pp. plus maps.

Currin, R. 1995. Personal Communication (phone conversation on June 13, 1995). Natural Resource Analysis, Adirondack Park Agency, Ray Brook, New York.

Davis, T. 1995. Personal communication (letter dated January 19, 1995). Pennsylvania Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Middleton, Pennsylvania.

Day, R. J. and J. V. Carter. 1990a. The Ecology of the Temagami Forest Based on a Photointerpretive Survey and the Forest Resources Inventory of the Temagami District. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sudbury, Ontario. 88 pp.

Day, R. J. and J. V. Carter. 1990b. Stand Structure and Successional Development of the White and Red Pine Communities in the Temagami Forest. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Sudbury, Ontario. 203 pp.

Demers, D. 1995. Personal Communication (fax dated March 31, 1995). Services des Inventairs Forestiers, Ministere des Ressources Naturel, Quebec, Quebec.

Durkas, T. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 26, 1995). Chattohoochee-Oconee National Forests, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Georgia.

Edelman, D. R. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 26, 1995). Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, New Jersey.

Enser, R. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 18, 1995). Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program, Division of Planning and Development, Department of Environmental Management, Providence, Rhode Island.

Fraser, G. A., W. E. Phillips, G. W. Lamble, G. D. Hogan and Alan Teskey. 1985. The Potential Impact of the Long Range Transport of Air Pollutants on Canadian Forests. Information Report E-X-36, Canadian Forestry Service, Minister of Supply and Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Geomatics International Inc. 1992. Assessment of Representation Needs of Natural Areas and Features in the Southern Boreal Forest, Site Region 4E, Site District 4E3. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northeastern Region, Sudbury, Ontario. 79 pp.

Geomatics International Inc. 1994. Gap Analysis and Candidiate Area Selection for Life Science Representation in Site District 4E-3. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Central Region, Huntsville, Ontario. 86 pp.

Giroux, P. A. 1994. Correlations between catchment disturbance, stream invertebrate and riparian communities in northeastern temperate forests near Temagami, Ontario. Master's Thesis, Graduate Program in Watershed Ecosystems, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.

Harmon, P. J. 1995. Personal Communication (telephone conversation March 30, 1995) Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Elkins, West Virginia.

Quinby, P. A. 1993. Old Growth Eastern White Pine Forest: An Endangered Ecosystem. Ancient Forest Baselines, No. 2, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Toronto, Ontario. 4 pp.

Quinby, P. A. 1994. Influence of logging, stand size, and stand shape on the regeneration of eastern white pine in old-growth forests. Forest Landscape Baselines No. 5, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Powassan, Ontario. 4 pp.

Quinby, P. A. and P. A. Giroux. 1993. A Survey of Old-Growth Eastern White Pine Forest in Canada and the United States. Ancient Forest Research Report No. 2, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Powassan, Ontario. 12 pp.

Quinby, P. A. and R. Hall. 1995. Ecology and Conservation of the Lower Spanish Pine Landscape, Presentation to E.B. Eddy Forest Products, October, 1995. E.B. Eddy, Espanola, Ontario.

Quinby, P. A. and T. Lee. in prep. Fine-Filter Ancient Forest Survey in the Solski Township Area of Central Ontario's Lower Spanish Forest.

Quinby, P. A., T. Lee, C. Schultz and J. Powers. 1995a. An Ancient Forest Atlas for the Lake Temagami Site Region (4E). Ancient Forest Exploration & Research and the Canadian Nature Federation, Ottawa, Ontario.

Quinby, P. A., F. McGuiness and R. Hall. in prep. Loss of Nutrients from Watershed Outlet Streams Due to Logging in the Lower Spanish Forest of Central Ontario. Quinby, P. A., F. McGuiness, T. Lee and A. Suski. 1995b. Relationships Between White

Pine Abundance and Landscape Habitats in the Rushbrook Lake Area of Central Ontario. Forest Landscape Baselines No. 7, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Toronto, Ontario. 4 pp.

Quinby, P. A., J. Powers, A. Suski and R. Hall. 1995c. Influence of Watershed Composition on Stream Outlet Chemistry in a Northern Temperate Forested Landscape in Central Ontario. Forest Landscape Baselines No. 8, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Toronto, Ontario. 4 pp.

Quinby, P. A. and A. Suski. 1995. Fine-Filter Ancient Forest Survey in the Rushbrook Lake Area of Central Ontario. Forest Landscape Baselines No. 6, Ancient Forest Exploration & Research, Toronto, Ontario. 4 pp.

Rawinski, T. 1995. Personal Communication (telephone conversation March 30, 1995). Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Richmond, Virginia.

Reuschel, T. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 13, 1995). State Forest Operations, Forest Management Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, Michigan.

Rusterholz, K. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 30, 1995). Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Schafale, M. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated March 1, 1995). North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Schwalm, J. 1995. Personal Communication (telephone conversation May 8, 1995). State Forestry Division, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Dover, Delaware.

Spectranalysis, Inc. 1992. Development of a Spatial Data Base of Red and White Pine Old-Growth Forest in Ontario - Phase I. Report Prepared for the Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ministry of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Stephans, G. 1995. Personal Communication (telephone conversation on March 31, 1995) Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Forestry and Horticulture, New Haven, Conneticut.

Strayer, D., J. S. Glitzenstein, C. G. Jones, Jerzy Kolasa, G. E. Likens, M. J. McDonnell, G., J. Parker and S. T. A. Pickett. 1986. Long-Term Ecological Studies: An Illustrated Account of their Design, Operation, and Importance to Ecology. Occasional Publication No. 2 of The Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The New York Botanical Garden, Millbrook, N.Y. 38 pp.

Swain, P. 1995. Personal Communication (telephone conversation March 30, 1995). Massachusetts Natural Heritage Program, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Boston, Massachusetts.

Thompson, E. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated January 25, 1995). Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Meyersdale, MD.

Tyler, H. R. 1995. Personal Communication (letter dated February 7, 1995). Executive Department, Maine State Planning Office, Augusta, Maine.

Welsh, D. A., T. Clark and K. Clark. 1992. Fauna of Red and White Pine Old-Growth Forests in Ontario: Issues and Recommendations for Research. Forest Fragmentation and

Biodiversity Report No. 3, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

White, D. J. 1989. A preliminary assessment of old-growth pine forest north of Obabika Lake, Temagami Planning Area. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Temagami District. 15 pp.

Wildlands League. 1995. Northern Ontario Endangered Spaces Map. Wildlands League, Toronto, Ontario.

World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWFC). 1995. Endangered Spaces Progress Report, 94-95, No. 5., Endangered Spaces Campaign, WWFC, Toronto, Ontario. 54 pp.

Appendix 1. Letter sent to the forest experts throughout eastern North America

Dear EXPERT:

I am currently putting together an Atlas of Ancient Forested Landscapes in Central Ontario, and am in the process of identifying areas that have never been logged. The criteria we use in our identification process are the following:

1) Forest stand age: 50 years minimum

2) Stand composition: minimum 10% white pine

or minimum 10% red pine

or minimum 10% combined red and white pine

We have identified an area meeting the above criteria that is approximately 100,000 ha in size. Having discovered this large landscape has stimulated our interest in how this area compares to others of similar composition. We are therefore conducting an expert opinion survey, and would like to know if you are aware of any larger area that meets these criteria. We would appreciate it if you could fill out the enclosed form, describing any such landscape you are aware of. We do not expect you to take a lot of time gathering data, instead, we ask that you only consider the information that is currently at your disposal, and base your response on this.

We have an interest in conducting landscape studies of areas with significant white and red pine composition, including the use of unlogged areas as control sites. We are also interested in the non-scientific values of these ancient landscapes, such as recreation, education, spirituality, and aesthetics.

Appendix 2. Survey form sent to the forest experts throughout eastern North America

Ancient Pine Forest Survey

Name:___________________________________________________________________________

Position:_______________________________________________________________________

Place of Work:________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Are you aware of any landscape that fits the previously described criteria?_____

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Location of forest:___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Amount of area that fits criteria (ha or acres):________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Amount of area within this with no historical record of logging (ha or acres):__

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Please append additional information if necessary.

Funding provided by:

The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation

Ontario Environmental Youth Corps:

(Ministry of Natural Resources)

Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation

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