Proposed land use designations and enhanced management areas apply only to Ontario Crown land. Where a proposed land use designation or area appears to overlap private land, Federal land, land with mining patents, leases, or claims, or Indian Reserves, that portion of the site is not being considered as a part of the designation.

In working to meet the Premier's commitment to increase the protected areas system in the Lands for Life area to 12% immediately, we had a number of goals. Partnership representatives worked with forestry company officials and Ministry of Natural Resources staff to identify large wild areas with significant natural values for protection. In many instances, we have tried to expand existing parks and protected areas to create larger core areas, while in other cases we worked to create linkages between new areas.

New protected areas in Algoma and along the Spanish River, for example, are joined by a network of waterway parks and protected areas spread through the Missassagi area lying between them. The huge Wabikimi wilderness park has similarly been both expanded and linked to the Lake Superior shoreline through the Lake Nipigon basin.

Very large new protected areas in the heart of the Boreal East planning area near Timmins and forest lands to the south of Kesagami Wilderness Park will add greatly to the representation of the eastern boreal forest in our protected-areas system. These areas are large enough to encompass the large-scale forces like fire that shape the boreal region.

On the edge of Southern Ontario, the new system features a string of large wild areas — from the Kawartha Highlands and the Dalton Digby Wildlands to the Severn River — that will be important for both ecological protection and wilderness recreation.

Finally, new protection for long stretches of the Georgian Bay and Lake Superior coastlines will ensure that the pristine beauty of these sensitive shoreline areas is left undisturbed. These protected shorelines will also provide connections between existing parks along both coasts for wildlife and people.

There is still more to do to ensure that our protected areas system represents all of the natural diversity of Ontario. There are more connections to be established and areas that need to be expanded. This is important work, but we have proven that with cooperation and a strong conservation mandate, it can be done. We are commited to moving forward with your continued support.

For further details, check out these related pages:

• New Site Profiles, which provides information and maps of the new protected-areas system 
• Far Northern Boreal which discusses opportunities for conservation in Ontario's northern boreal region.