Catchacoma Forest Stewardship Committee Update

tree stump

This update is provided by Katie Krelove, Wilderness Committee

Dear Supporter, 

I’m writing to you on behalf of the Catchacoma Forest Stewardship Committee with an update on our efforts to secure protection status for the rare old growth forest north of Catchacoma Lake.   

With your help, we have succeeded in getting a hold on logging for Catchacoma in the 2021-2031 Forest Management Plan!  Proposed “regular” harvest in the forest has been changed to “contingency” harvest–meaning that the logging company will have to jump through more hoops if they want to log old growth.   

While we don’t know exactly how long this reprieve will last, we now have breathing room to focus efforts on making the case for protection for Catchacoma to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. The ministry has recently signalled an intention to seek ways to grow the province’s protected places beyond the 10.7 percent it has been stuck at for years. The newly appointed minister of environment, David Piccini, has spoken in the media about making protected places a priority.

There are lots of ways to continue to support the efforts to see this rare forest protected:

  1. Write a Letter to MECP! We have sent a request for a meeting with Minister Piccini to discuss conservation status for Catchacoma. Send a letter to support this: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/take-action/support-protection-catchacoma-old-growth-forest
  2. Join us in the Forest! Now that Covid restrictions are loosening we will resume public and research events in Catchacoma.   The next scheduled event is a “Turtle Walk and Talk” on August 7, 10AM.  With a presentation from Turtle Guardians (https://www.turtleguardians.com/) this event will highlight the turtle species that call Catchacoma home.  To register for this event email me back, for more info see facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/4131177340265198/?ref=newsfeed
  3. Donate to Ancient Forest Exploration & Research to support hiking trail maintenance and further studies in Catchacoma:  Donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/24326
  4. Join our Committee:  we meet once a week to plan outreach, strategy and events.   We’d love to have you help out!  email katie@wildernesscommittee.org to ask about joining us. 
  5. Share this email with your friends, family and networks! 
  6. Check out his video! Dr. Peter Quinby of AFER and I recently presented on Catchacoma Forest at the province-wide People’s Summit on Growing Protected Areas: you can watch the panel here:  https://peoplessummit.ca/recordings/

For The Wild! 


Katie Krelove | Ontario Campaigner | She/Her
Wilderness Committee | People-Powered Wilderness Conservation
Tel:416-849-6520 Cell: 647-208-4026 
#207-425 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 2AS | Traditional territory of Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnaabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat