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Nature Link

With Blake Mann

Nature reserves in Ontario

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

There are many nature reserves across Ontario. These reserves are a way of preserving the natural environment, and keeping out "non-conforming" uses such as hunting, logging, mining, and motorized vehicles (especially ATV's). These "uses" are harmful to the natural state of the environment to varying degrees. There are many other areas these activities can safely take place.
Recently, the movement towards saving the environment has made these reserves rather popular. More and more are created each year.
The Federation of Ontario Naturalists (non-government) has created many reserves over the years. Check out their website at  HYPERLINK "http://www.ontarionature.org/index.php3"; http://www.ontarionature.org/index.php3 for a description of each reserve. They started acquiring reserves in 1961, and now have about 20 properties, totalling close to 4000 acres. Most are open to the public, but it is imperative for observers to stay on the trails. No motorized vehicles are allowed.
Each one is created because of its unique habitat, flora and fauna, or a combination thereof. One such reserve is the H. N. Crossley Reserve south of Rosseau in Muskoka which I visited a number of years ago. (See attached photo). It is a boggy area with many special plants.
Ontario Parks also has a number of reserves under their jurisdiction. See website for a list  HYPERLINK "http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/natreserv...e.html"; http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/natr...eserve.html
The Cabot Head area on the Bruce Peninsula is an Ontario Parks reserve. I spent some time at it this past summer, and I wrote about it in my first column. Many of these are not actually open to the general public, and are there for preservation and research purposes.
Clear Creek Forest in Chatham-Kent is essentially a nature reserve also. It has been mentioned in previous columns. It was purchased by the Nature Conservancy and turned over to Ontario Parks for management purposes.
Not far from Cabot Head near the juncture of Highway 6 and Dyer's Bay Road is the Bruce Alvar Reserve owned by the FON. It has a significant stand of Lakeside Daisy (Rubberweed). There is a trail, but you must stay on it to protect the plants. This is, of course, true for any such reserve.
Nature Reserves and other parks are important in today's world. They preserve nature, and contribute to the health of the ecosystem. Hiking on designated trails is allowed in some of these for us to view and appreciate nature. No motorized vehicles, especially ATV's need be anywhere near these. Irresponsible ATV operators are doing too much damage to the natural environment. In fact, from what I (and many others) have seen lately, it is reaching epidemic proportions. Something has to be done soon about this serious irresponsible ATV problem. But that is another whole topic!